text: Organisers of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe have announced the outline programme for the event’s free-to attend conference taking place at the RAI Amsterdam on 10 and 11 April 2019. Visitor registration for free entry to the two-day exhibition is also now open at: www.prseventeurope.com
  Key speakers at the conference on plastics recycling include Gilonne Traub, Senior Research Analyst, New Plastics Economy at the Ellen Macarthur Foundation; Gian De Belder, Principal Scientist - Packaging R&D at Procter & Gamble; Leopold Thorsten, Head of International Packaging Development Home Care at Henkel and Karlheinz Hausmann, Global TS&D Fellow at Dow Europe.
  The conference opens on 10 April with a session examining the latest developments and trends in the plastics recycling landscape in Europe. Among speakers in this session, Daniel Stricker, Head of Market Research and Editor-in-Chief at KI Group will review the current state of affairs of the European plastics recycling industry, the legislative landscape and plastics recycling figures in Europe. There will also be updates on the European Union’s Plastics Strategy.
  The following materials focus sessions will explore the challenges, issues and opportunities within the sector for mechanical recycling, with sessions covering PET, PVC and Technical Plastics. Each material focus session will be overseen by the relevant Working Group Chairman from Plastics Recyclers Europe.
  The second day’s opening conference session will look at technology, innovation and recyclability of plastic products. This will focus on design for recycling and technological developments in collection, sorting, shredding, washing, extrusion and plastics conversion. Distinguished speakers already confirmed include Gilonne Traub of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Gian De Belder of FMCG brand owner Procter & Gamble.
  Day two continues with a polyolefins materials focus sessions which will examine the current status of polyolefin waste streams including high- and low-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), as well as mixed plastics recycling (Pots, Tubs & Trays). Karlheinz Hausmann of Dow Europe joins the panel for the LDPE session, while Henkel’s Leopold Thorsten is among speakers in the HDPE session.
  Over 100 companies and industry organisations have already confirmed their presence as exhibitors at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2019, which has this year moved to the larger Hall 7 at the RAI Amsterdam to accommodate growing numbers of exhibitors and visitors.
  The pan-European, free-to-attend exhibition and conference are designed specifically for plastics recycling professionals. The Plastics Recycling Show Europe brings together key players from the plastics and recycling sectors to showcase innovative technology, share best practice, network and do business. A broad cross section of the industry is represented at the event including plastics recycling machinery and equipment suppliers, plastic material suppliers and compounders, pre-processors, plastics recyclers, waste management specialists and industry associations.
  The Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRS) is an annual exhibition and conference for plastics recycling professionals. It brings together key players from the plastics and recycling sectors to learn, network and capitalise on the business opportunities plastic recycling offers. The annual event is organised by Crain Communications and Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) and next takes place at RAI, Amsterdam in the Netherlands on 10 and 11 April 2019. Plastics Recyclers Europe represents 80% of European mechanical recycling capacity and has more than 120 members across the EU.