NEWS K Show still pulls in the crowds


K 2025, still the most prominent trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries worldwide, closed on 15 October after welcoming 175,000 visitors through the doors of Messe Düsseldorf in Germany. In view of the current difficult economic climate and other factors affecting the plastics industry, many companies travelled to Düsseldorf with subdued expectations, said the organisers. But encouragingly, they described the prevailing mood across the fully occupied exhibition grounds as “good” as the industry presented itself as more resilient and forward- thinking than ever. “K has demonstrated once again just how much innovative power and dynamism this sector holds,” said Marius Berlemann, chief operating officer at Messe Düsseldorf. He said: “K is an indispensable compass in uncertain times and once again succeeded in confirming its role as the most important impulse provider and launch platform for the


global plastics and rubber industry.” At this year’s K Show, there were


3,275 exhibitors from 66 nations and over 175,000 trade visitors from around 160 countries. Official post-show figures indicated that 73% of visitors came from outside Ger- many. A particularly strong represen- tation was seen from China (6,300 visitors) and India (6,400 visitors) with a total of 10,000 travelling from the


US and Brazil, said the organisers. For machinery exhibitors, efficiency,


precision, and resource savings were key themes, while materials exhibitors highlighted developments related to sustainability and megatrends like e-mobility. The emergence and incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) was another prevailing theme at this year’s event. � www.k-online.de


Circular route for medical plastic waste


Sabic has teamed up with the Zuyderland medical centre in The Netherlands collaborate to convert medical plastic waste into new contact-sensitive packaging materials. In collaboration with


converters, Coveris and ACE, and brand owners Artivion and Mölnlycke Health Care, the partners have recycled used medical plastics back into the medical materials stream in two pilot projects. Details of the projects were exhibited at K2025. Zuyderland launched a medical plastic waste collection programme in June 2024, with a collection


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


Mölnlycke made surgical drapes containing recycled hospital- generated plastic waste


system for non-contaminat- ed plastic waste that had not come into contact with patients, blood or bodily fluids. The waste was prepared and transported


to Sabic, to be converted into pyrolysis oil – which was then used to make polyeth- ylene (PE) for its chemically recycled Trucircle range. It has been used in two


healthcare products: Coveris used it to make packaging with 25% recyclate, for Artivion’s guide wire (used in vascular surgery); and Mölnlycke made surgical drapes – with 49% recycled content. “Non-contaminated medical plastic waste is a valuable feedstock opportu- nity,” said Khaled Al- Jalawi, global circular economy director at Sabic. Roel Goffin, board member at Zuyderland, added: “Our own non-con- taminated medical plastic waste has been successfully turned into new material” � www.sabic.com


November/December 2025 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 11


IMAGE: SABIC


IMAGE: MESSE DÜSSELDORF/CTILLMANN


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