The current situation of the European PET industry seen from Brussels

On 7 and 8 February, in Brussels, around 300 participants attended over 50 technical presentations at the annual conference organised by Petcore Europe, the European association representing the entire PET supply chain. Special attention was dedicated to new technologies and applications and to the current situation of the European PET industry, in a context that necessarily had to deal with a global scenario strongly conditioned by geopolitical dynamics such as the war in Ukraine and the attacks in the Red Sea. At the moment, the repercussions on the energy market and supply chain in general are inevitable and heavy, putting European industry at a disadvantage compared to its competitors, especially from the East, which manage to penetrate the European markets with a certain ease.

The PET industry, in particular the packaging segment, is experiencing a period of transition which, according to insiders, should take it to overcome the current economic situation, also characterised by the European environmental policy and regulatory framework that require great efforts from companies to achieve legislative compliance and the standards required for the sector. On the other hand, the situation is favourable for recycling and recyclates which, although having to cope with fluctuations in the prices of raw materials and inflation, are positively affected by an environmental policy that strongly promotes the use of recycled materials in plastic products. The Italian industry, which has always been close to the European association, was represented by numerous companies operating in the sector, including Sorema and Amut as "gold sponsors" of the event.