The leaders of the world's plastics industry
met in Istanbul in an organization by PAGEV
Industry 4.0 looms closer. Plastics is among the industries that are affected the most by the transformation, and prepares for the future with innovative products. Turkey, being Europe's second and the world's sixth largest plastics producer, aims for new leadership in the industry through investments in research and development. The 13th annual Turkish Plastics Industry Congress, held by the Turkish Plastics Foundation (PAGEV) to encourage development in the industry, took place under the main theme of "Plastics of the Future". Industry and nongovernmental organization leaders met in Istanbul to shape the future of the plastics industry.
The Turkish Plastics Foundation (PAGEV) held its 13th “Turkish Plastics Industry Congress" on December 4, 2018 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel. Subject matter experts, industry representatives and academics convened around the theme of "Plastics of the Future".
The meeting of the executives and leaders of the world's plastics associations began with introductory remarks by EuPC - European Plastic Converters Association Executive Officer Renato Zelcher and PAGEV President Yavuz Eroğlu.
The hallmark event of the industry covered topics from high-technology and Industry 4.0-compliant manufacturing to innovative approaches to plastics, nanotechnology, and sustainable solutions to provide a glimpse of what the future holds for the industry. One of the key conclusions of the congress was that the plastics industry, being uniquely flexible and adaptable, would change along with emerging technologies and continue to make all aspects of life easier.
As part of the 13th Turkish Plastics Industry Congress, a panel discussion was held on “What the Future Holds for the Plastics Industry”. Moderated by PAGEV President Yavuz Eroğlu, the panel featured speakers European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) Board of Directors Chair Renato Zelcher, European Plastic Raw Materials Manufacturers Association (PlasticsEurope) Executive Director Karl Foerster, American Chemical Council (ACC) Director General Keith A. Christman, and PlasticsEurope Mediterranean Regional Director Giuseppe Riva.
The Main Sponsor of the event was PAGÇEV along with Sponsors Huzur Plastik, Gür Plastik, SEM Plastik ve TSP Plastik İşleme Teknolojileri, and the sessions were followed by a wide audience as in previous years.
Delivering introductory remarks, TOBB Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Assembly and PAGEV President Yavuz Eroğlu said, “Our objective when committing to the Turkish Plastics Industry Congress was to help our plastic manufacturers see and understand new perspectives. The amazing level of attendance makes it clear that the event is very useful for the industry. This is an indicator that we are on the right path. I would like to thank everyone who supported our event. This year, we chose to focus on the future instead of discussing the past and present. Speakers shared their valuable insight regarding the transformation in the plastics industry. The key takeaway was that advanced technologies, innovation and sustainable solutions will play a critical part in the future of the industry."
Saying that the plastics sector was among the fastest-growing industries in Turkey with 11,000 operators, 250,000 employees and 34 billion dollars in revenue, Yavuz Eroğlu continued: “Plastics are key input items in a variety of industries from food to health, construction, automotive, cosmetics and textile with their practicality, benefits, quality and variety. Although plastics grow consistently, the leap will be achieved through high value-added products that are compatible with changing technologies and meet the expectations of consumers. As the industry grows, so do the preconceptions in society against plastics due to plastic litter in our environment. We have been saying for years: plastics don't litter; people litter. Individuals who know what plastics may be recycled and why will have both protected the environment and dispelled myths about the harms of plastics. As PAGEV, we will continue to lead the field with trainings and projects on establishing a culture of recycling.”
