Industry News
Editor’s Note
Hello and welcome to the April issue of Converter magazine. Spring has well and truly sprung, and even though the dark cloud of the coronavirus looms over, there is plenty of innovation emerging from the converting industry. From manufacturing PPE
equipment on production lines to advising government on how to secure jobs and businesses, the entire industry has stepped up to help out. This is a global emergency, and a global solution will be needed to overcome the worst of it. We have never experienced such unprecedented strain on our daily lives, our businesses and our working relationships but I am ever-optimistic for the future. It is the unknown we move into now, the new normal, the changed-landscape but if we work together, we can create a sustainable future for all. As ever, if you’d like to write an editorial article for the magazine, on
any given subject in the industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by emailing
nmarriott@datateam.co.uk. I am always looking for new ways to communicate your key issues and opinions. In the meantime, please enjoy reading this magazine. I hope you find it informative, intelligently curated and inordinately useful.
Stay safe,
Niamh Marriott Editor
nmarriott@datateam.co.uk
NEW PLASTICS TAX ‘REAL BOOST’ FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE
With the UK set to bring in a new tax on plastic packaging, leading sustainability authority Bureau Veritas has revealed that the levy represents a ‘real boost’ for the circular economy. Earlier this month, in his first Budget as Chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced
that from April 2020, the UK will introduce a new plastics packaging tax1. The levy means manufacturers and importers whose products have less than 30 per cent recyclable material will be charged £200 per tonne. The move is designed to increase the use of recycled plastic in packaging by 40 per cent, which according to the government is “equal to carbon savings of nearly 200,000 tonnes”. The tax comes as the UK has seen more and more consumers call for a
boycott on plastic packaging in recent years - leading to all major supermarkets and retail outlets including Iceland, Tesco and Boots introducing measures to reduce their use. With this in mind, Bureau Veritas, believes the packaging levy is likely to aid companies looking to incorporate the principles of circular economy into their operations by helping to create new markets for recyclable materials that have traditionally ended up in landfill. David Murray, technical director for sustainability at Bureau Veritas, comments: “The UK’s plastic tax announcement reflects the prevailing public sentiment that businesses should be doing more to combat the level of plastic waste that is having a detrimental impact on our environment. The levy will provide a real boost for the UK’s mission to move towards a circular economy as to will undoubtedly help to unlock future investment in recycling infrastructure. It will also allow the resources and waste sector to utilise valuable materials that have traditionally been lost to export markets. “On a wider scale, this will have huge implications for the rising number of businesses we’ve seen in recent years looking to embed sustainability into their operations by adopting circular economy principles. For instance, the policy is likely to boost the recycling rates of the entire supply chain - from procurement to disposal – reducing waste output as well as spurring more sustainable product design. It will also help to drive a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) profile.” The government has now launched a consultation, open until 20 May, on
the detailed design and implementation of the tax, which includes consideration of an exemption for certain types of medical packaging.
convertermag.com
DOMO Chemicals to invest €12 million in new nylon plant in China
DOMO Chemicals, a producer of engineering materials for a diverse range of markets, has announced plans for a new state-of-the-art plant in Zhejiang, China. The new plant will be capable of producing 50,000 tons of sustainable and innovative engineered nylon compounds each year. The company signed a new factory project through “cloud contract” with PingHu DuShan port Economic Development District on February 20, 2020. Production is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year. DOMO Chemicals will invest €12 million in the new plant, which will
have more than 11,500m2 floor space. The company plans to install multiple production lines at the first stage of development, which would offer an estimated capacity of 25,000 tons/year. There will be enough additional space available to cope with future demand requirements. The move is in line with the company’s global growth strategy with a strong focus on the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Speaking during a video ceremony of the signing, Vice President Global Engineering Plastics, Mr. Ludovic Tonnerre stated: “DOMO Chemicals has only been operating in China since 2015, but we are growing rapidly. Despite the current coronavirus challenges, we are confident that China will lead the world in embracing a future generation of sustainability and e-mobility solutions. We are very grateful to the government and relevant departments for their patience and assistance and are confident in our long term cooperation, relationships and mutual opportunities.” The new plant will be located in the convenient transportation port
area of DuShan Pinghu city, Zhejiang province, which is in close proximity to Shanghai and facing the East China Sea. The modern factory will integrate R&D, production, and sales.
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