Source :pagcev.net

The Future of Plastics Was Discussed at the GPCA Plastic Conference

PLASTIC CALL TO THE GULF COUNTRIES

“TURKEY IS THE 6TH LARGEST PLASTIC PRODUCT PROCESSOR IN THE WORLD AND THE 2ND LARGEST IN EUROPE”

The conference, hosted by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), was recently held in Dubai. Industry leaders, policymakers, academics, and value chain partners came together at the GPCA Plastic Conference. Yavuz Eroğlu, Chairman of the Board of Yeşil Dönüşüm ve Teknoloji Derneği (PAGÇEV), PAGEV, and SEM Plastik, shared that Turkey is the 6th largest plastic product processor in the world and the 2nd largest in Europe, stating, “Turkey produces 11 million tons of plastic products annually. Turkey and the Gulf countries are two economies that complement each other in plastic product and petrochemical production. Therefore, we invite all Gulf country producers to invest in Turkey.” Emphasizing the power of civil society organizations in overcoming challenges during the green transformation process, Eroğlu added, “As TOBB Turkey Plastic, Rubber, and Composites Industry Council, PAGEV, and PAGÇEV, we aim to further strengthen our collaboration.”

Following the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) held in Ottawa, Canada, the GPCA Plastic Conference brought together plastic producers and value chain partners from the Gulf countries in Dubai. The conference hosted discussions on the technologies, innovations, and importance of collaboration required to achieve a sustainable transformation for plastics. At the 13th GPCA Plastic Conference, short-term themes relevant to the regional and global plastics industry were addressed, including the pathway to shaping the future of plastics, advancing the recycling sector in Gulf countries, increasing the focus on innovation for sustainability, and technological developments for Design for Recycling (DfR).

“CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A MAJOR ROLE IN THE GREEN TRANSFORMATION”

Speaking at the annual GPCA Conference, held under the theme “Innovating for Sustainable Growth – Charting the Future of Plastics,” Yavuz Eroğlu, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Plastics Industry Research, Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV), PAGÇEV, and SEM Plastik, shared his assessment of the plastics sector in the context of the green transformation process.

Emphasizing the power of civil society organizations in overcoming challenges during the green transformation, Eroğlu stated:

“The Gulf countries are rich in oil resources and have advanced petrochemical investments, but their biggest gap is the lack of a plastic product processing industry to convert these petrochemical products into plastic goods. Turkey, on the other hand, is the 6th largest plastic product processor in the world and the 2nd largest in Europe, producing 11 million tons of plastic products annually. However, Turkey’s petrochemical production remains far below its plastic processing capacity. Turkey and the Gulf countries are two economies that complement each other in plastic product and petrochemical production. Therefore, we invite all Gulf country producers to invest in Turkey.

Just a few months ago, in Qatar, we brought together the CEOs of Gulf petrochemical producers with our Chairman of the Presidential Investment Agency, Burak Dağlıoğlu. I hope that joint investments in this area will be mutually beneficial. Additionally, we are ready to invest in the region to contribute to the production of high value-added plastic products in the Gulf countries. Together, we can create synergy and potentially establish a global leader in plastics and recycling. In doing so, we should especially leverage the guidance and cooperation of our civil society organizations.

Turkey, with its unique structure, connects the business cultures of the East and West. In the green transformation, as the TOBB Turkey Plastic, Rubber, and Composites Industry Council, PAGEV, and PAGÇEV, which I chair, we aim to further strengthen our collaboration.”

STRONG INTEREST IN PAGEV’S INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

At the event held in the conference foyer, visitors at the PAGEV stand were introduced to the Turkish Plastics Industry, the PlastEurasia Fair, and the Replast Eurasia Plastic Recycling Technologies and Raw Materials Fair. PAGEV’s international certification program, “Operation Clean Sweep,” designed to prevent microplastic granules from entering the environment, attracted significant interest from major plastics and petrochemical industry companies in the region.

Sara Jackson, Technical Director of the Circular Packaging Association, highlighted that with plastic production expected to double by 2030 and then double again by 2050, enabling a circular economy and addressing plastic waste has become increasingly important. She stated, “The insufficient recycling technology for new initiatives, the lack of strong infrastructure, and the absence of coordination and standardization in plastic waste pose numerous challenges for the industry today. Therefore, achieving circularity will require the efforts of all stakeholders and necessitate public-private dialogue.”

GPCA SECRETARY GENERAL DR. ABDULWAHAB AL-SADOUN: “WE MUST IMPLEMENT MORE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS”

Leading global and regional plastics producers, policymakers, converters, brand owners, recyclers, and young members of the region addressed the growing plastic waste challenge and engaged in thought-provoking discussions aimed at enabling sustainable industry growth. At the event, Naser Aldousari, CEO of QUATE Group and Chair of the GPCA Plastics Committee; Jacob Duer, President and CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste; Othaibah Saeed Al Qaydi, Director at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; Jamila El Mir, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion and Senior Advisor to COP28; Monir Salem Bou Ghanem, Integrated Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency; and Priya Sarma, President of the Circular Packaging Association and Head of Sustainability & Corporate Relations, discussed the opportunities and challenges of circular plastics management in the Gulf countries.

This year’s conference program featured a dynamic series of session formats, including a leadership dialogue chaired by Moveed Fazail, Director of Polymers at S&P Global Commodity Insights. Senior industry leaders, including Fayez Al-Sharef (CEO of Sadara), Khalid Al Dawood (MD of NATPET), Muayad Al-Faresi (MD of Equipolymers GmbH), Naif Al-Ayed (CEO of NUSANED Investment Company), as well as representatives from SABIC and brand owners PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble, explored sustainable innovations and regional opportunities to address a global challenge.

GPCA Secretary General Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun stated, “Plastic production is undergoing significant transformation due to increasing regulatory pressures, changing consumer habits, rising demand for more recycled and recyclable plastics, and supply chain challenges. As the modern world requires reliable, sustainable, and circular solutions, we must bring more sustainable materials to life by investing in innovation and value chain collaboration in the industry, preparing for a future that is more demanding than ever.”