BIR confronts plastic scrap downturn

Leading plastic scrap recyclers and traders are preparing for the latest convention of the Bureau of International Recycling next month knowing that the recent boost to their sector is over.

According to BIR’s preview of its plenary session in Abu Dhabi on 24 October: ‘Nothing good lasts forever, it has been said. Well, for plastics recyclers, nothing good seems to last for very long.’ 

The organisation notes the benefits of ‘huge demand and high prices’ were only brief, built around a surge in brand commitments to the increased use of recycled content in their products and packaging.

Low profitability

‘But all too soon the sector has suffered a return to the days of low-to-zeroprofitability that will clearly stifle investment in our crucial pro-planet activities,’ BIR adds. ‘Conducive market fundamentals are clearly essential if plastics recycling is to realise its full potential as a force for environmental good, whether that be achieved through legislation or through some other means.’

Alssema, Craipeau, Al Sharif, Somer, Wong

The theme of low profitability will form part of a discussion by a panel of experts consisting of plastcs committee chairman Henk Alssema, committee members Steve Wong (China Sustainable Plastics Association), Max Craipeau (Greencore Resources, China), and Mahmoud Al Sharif (Sharif Metals Group, United Arab Emirates), as well as Jerome Viricel (Veolia, Middle East) and Alev Somer, BIR’s trade and environment director.

Somer also will be talking about progress on about the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty, a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution currently in preparation.