Discount Available for Key Chemical Recycling Event

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has announced that its highly popular, half-day online event looking at the latest developments in chemical recycling will take place 11 October. Those booking before 31 August will receive a 20% discount on ticket prices.

Delivered in collaboration with Plastics Europe, the event will feature eight speakers from organisations including Unilever, Dow and the Food and Drink Federation. Delegates will also be given access to four pre-recorded sessions by academics, looking at key innovations.

The first live session will feature Global Petrochemical Analyst at S&P Global Commodity Insights Joshua Forber, who will speak about developments and investment in chemical recycling across the globe. He will explore both current and future global capacities and the effect this is likely to have on the polymer market.

President and CEO of Plastics Energy Carlos Monreal will then discuss forecasts of the future of chemical recycling in Europe, as well as how legislation may impact the sector. This session will be followed by Unilever’s Home Beauty and Personal Care Packaging Director Colin Kerr, who will provide a brand owner’s perspective on using chemical recyclate. Delegates will also hear about challenges Unilever have faced in using chemical recycling as well as its future plans.

Dow’s Global Market Manager Mark Van Den Biggelaar follows, who will explain Dow’s progress and experiences in scaling up chemical recycling technologies. ISCC Systems’ Principal Inna Knelsen will then explore mass balance, how it works and how it might be used to certify products, looking at the legislative landscape across Europe and the rest of the world. A panel discussion about legislation will then take place, featuring representatives from Plastics Energy, Plastics Europe and the BPF.

The final live presentation will feature David Bellamy, senior environment policy manager at the Food and Drink Federation, who will present his thoughts on how chemical recycling can play a role in overcoming barriers to using recyclate in food contact applications.

The four pre-recorded sessions that delegates will also have access to include:

• How to Engineer Faster-acting Enzymes for Recycling Some of the World’s most Polluting Single-use Plastics - Professor John McGeehan from Portsmouth University
• How Artificial Intelligence Can Be Used to Create an Enzyme That Breaks Down Plastic in a Week - Professor Hal Arper from the University of Texas
• Producing Sustainable Fine Chemicals and Fuels from Photo-cracking Plastic Waste via Grafted UV/Vis Active Nanoparticles - Dr Maria Grazianna Francesconi from the University of Hull
• Transforming Plastic Waste into Hydrogen and High-value Carbons - Xiuagyu Jie from the University of Oxford

Each attendee will also be given access to the recordings of the 2020 and 2021 chemical recycling seminars.

BPF Director General Philip Law states:

Interest continues to grow in chemical recycling technologies, which will play a vital role in complementing traditional mechanical recycling technology so that much more plastic material can be kept in use. A lot of innovation is clearly underway and I am delighted to present this highly interesting programme with the support of Plastics Europe. All those keen for a detailed overview of the latest developments are encouraged to attend.

Plastics Europe’s Resource Efficiency Senior Manager Adrian Whyle added:

Chemical recycling provides the opportunity to increase the amount and qualities of recycled plastics. Plastics producers are seeking to invest more than 7 billion euros into chemical recycling by 2030 in Europe. To provide investor confidence for this planned investment, legislation needs to provide a framework that enables the use of innovative technologies.

Chemical Recycling 2022 will run from 13.00 to 17.00 on 11 October. A special discounted rate is available until 31 August, meaning the event costs just £39 + VAT for BPF and Plastics Europe members and £79 + VAT for non-members.

Full details of this online seminar can be found at www.bpf.co.uk/chemicalrecycling