SleepTech_January - February 2019

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congress was that the plastics
industry, being uniquely flexible
and adaptable, would change
along with emerging technologies
and continue to make all aspects
of life easier.
As part of the 13th Turkish Plastics
Industry Congress, a panel discussion
was held on “What the Future
Holds for the Plastics Industry”.
Moderated by PAGEV President
Yavuz Eroğlu, the panel featured
speakers European Plastics Converters
Association (EuPC) Board
of Directors Chair Renato Zelcher,
European Plastic Raw Materials
Manufacturers Association (PlasticsEurope)
Executive Director Karl
Foerster, American Chemical Council
(ACC) Director General Keith
A. Christman, and PlasticsEurope
Mediterranean Regional Director
Giuseppe Riva.
The Main Sponsor of the event
was PAGÇEV along with Sponsors
Huzur Plastik, Gür Plastik, SEM
Plastik ve TSP Plastik İşleme Teknolojileri,
and the sessions were
followed by a wide audience as in
previous years.
Delivering introductory remarks,
TOBB Plastics, Rubber and Composites
Industry Assembly and
PAGEV President Yavuz Eroğlu
said, “Our objective when committing
to the Turkish Plastics Industry
Congress was to help our plastic
manufacturers see and understand
new perspectives. The amazing
level of attendance makes it clear
that the event is very useful for
the industry. This is an indicator
that we are on the right path. I
would like to thank everyone who
supported our event. This year,
we chose to focus on the future
instead of discussing the past
and present. Speakers shared
their valuable insight regarding
the transformation in the plastics
industry. The key takeaway
was that advanced technologies,
innovation and sustainable solutions
will play a critical part in the
future of the industry.”
Saying that the plastics sector
was among the fastest-growing
industries in Turkey with 11,000
operators, 250,000 employees
and 34 billion dollars in revenue,
Yavuz Eroğlu continued: “Plastics
are key input items in a variety
of industries from food to
health, construction, automotive,
cosmetics and textile with their
practicality, benefits, quality and
variety. Although plastics grow
consistently, the leap will be
achieved through high value-added
products that are compatible
with changing technologies and
meet the expectations of consumers.
As the industry grows, so
do the preconceptions in society
against plastics due to plastic
litter in our environment. We have
been saying for years: plastics
don’t litter; people litter. Individuals
who know what plastics may
be recycled and why will have
both protected the environment
and dispelled myths about the
harms of plastics. As PAGEV, we
will continue to lead the field with
trainings and projects on establishing
a culture of recycling.”