Global polymer trends | markets feature AMI Consulting has just published a new report which fully
documents global plastics consumption by polymer type, region and process. Senior project manager Carole Kluth reviews some of the key trends for the industry and its future outlook
Global success story: analysing polymer demand trends
The global polymer industry consumes raw materials worth more than US$500 billion per year and trans- forms them into plastics products valued at more than US$1 trillion. It is a major part of the world economy and an industry which contributes to every country and community on the planet. It is generally calculated that the average consumer uses or touches over 50 items every day which depend on plastics for their functional- ity and performance. The success of plastics has generally been achieved
because of the material’s light weight, strength and the design fl exibility it offers to brand owners. These are the characteristics which have led to the replacement of metals, glass, paper and other traditional materials in many applications. Indeed, the future opportunities con-
www.injectionworld.com
tinue to be signifi cant as heritage materials retain a strong position in many markets and there is great potential for polymers to continue to replace them. As with all industries, plastics face a number of
signifi cant challenges and opportunities in the coming decades. It is clear that plastics will be called on to play a vital role in this changing world. The opportunities are many and the challenges mostly derive from the successful development which has already been achieved. The challenges which confront the industry are clearest in the area of packaging, where around half of all polymers are used. This success means that polymers are very visible and therefore increasingly the focus of unjustifi ed and ill-informed attacks from politicians and vested interest groups.
The plastics industry has become a major part of the world economy,
contributing to every country on the planet
November/December 2014 | INJECTION WORLD 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66