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The Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) serves as the voice of the European plastics producing industry. It represents more than 90 percent of Western Europe's polymer production capacity - with a turnover of more than 29 billion Euro. The industry invests in research and development programs amounting to at least 700 million Euro and employs over 70,000 people. Combined with the European polymer converting industry and the machinery manufacturers, this industry represents a major contributor to Europe's economic strength, employing well over one million people and generating sales in excess of 135 billion Euro. APME represents the plastics producers at the European level and promotes the benefits of plastics in every aspect of life. We co-operate with other up chain and down chain industry sectors to provide effective solutions with plastics. APME's technical department provides technical information on plastics use and plastics waste including environmental and economic data. On behalf of over 40 member companies, APME generates information on the polymer industry and promotes the positive contribution of plastics in our society.
APME has an elaborate advocacy program on various European legal directives and issues focusing on plastics. Our technical work program creates targeted background information to support our political work on a credible basis. Waste treatment is an important topic, especially given the new equipment directives on end of life vehicles and waste electrical and electronic equipment. Besides conducting technical trials on a pilot scale, we provide data on life cycle assessment of plastic materials. Our latest assessment tool, the eco-efficiency model, provides the possibility to evaluate ecology and economy. APME is engaged in multiple trans-European projects in the various plastics segments including packaging, building construction, automotive, and electrical/electronic (E/E). We completed intensive research and compiled comprehensive information on the contribution of plastics for the important subject of sustainable development. The use of plastics is growing in all application areas in cars; for example, plastics are increasingly used due to their lightweight property. Utilizing plastics in these applications contributes significantly to weight reduction which helps further the goal of reducing vehicle CO2 emissions. Plastics are also key to many innovative solutions in car safety, as well as comfort. In addition, new applications of plastics "under the hood" contribute to the growth rate. Increasing Use of Plastics in Automobiles
In 1998, the share of plastic components in the average European car was about 10 percent. Today, it is 15 percent. That's because manufacturers - both car makers and suppliers - know that plastic parts provide high performance, are highly reliable, and are cost effective during production and use. The main drivers in the automotive industry are costs and performance. Yet, beyond the automotive industry, plastics are recognized for their performance in innovative applications during the last 10-15 years. Nowadays the highly integrated electrical and electronic goods would not be possible without plastics. Plastics can be processed into various three-dimensional shapes and can be easily combined with other materials. For the booming consumer electronics industry such as mobile phones, the issue of miniaturization is key. Plastics play a major role in that market. The same is true for plastics as packaging materials where "Less is more" is the slogan. Due to intensive research in our industry ever higher performing films were developed, showing excellent mechanical performance but using less and less material. With the increasing use of plastic materials in all sectors, there is the increasing challenge of managing plastic wastes as products reach end-of-life. Our industry has been engaged in this discussion for many years from both a political and technical perspective. Currently there are three major European directives that affect the plastics industry. They are:
The main focus of all directives is to harmonize EU member states national legislation, to promote the EU internal market, and to remove EU internal trade barriers. Further objectives are designed to promote re-use, recovery and recycling, and to minimize associated risks through restricting specific substances like e.g. Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr). Plastic materials are not the sole focus of these regulations as the automotive and E/E regulations target the whole product and all its components. All three directives define targets to be met for reuse and material recycling, energy recovery, and restrict the volumes to be land filled. Our industry welcomes the restriction of landfills as this option, especially in the case of plastics, leads to the depletion of precious energy resources through combustion of the organic fraction and the use of the energy content. Mechanical recycling is not always eco-efficient, this means not balanced from an ecologic and economic view. Principally it could make sense if large monomaterial plastic streams would be available and a sufficient market for the lower performing recyclates would exist. Feedstock recycling processes, (e.g. mixed plastic waste back into chemicals like in syngas-processes), or using the plastics as reductants in blast furnaces are also included in the definition of material recycling and look rather promising in providing solutions for the plastics waste. Mixed plastic waste can also be processed in cement kilns to generate alternative energy sources to replace crude oil or gas. APME uses an easy, understandable eco-efficiency tool to evaluate the various options for the plastics waste treatment. Plastics — Waste Treatment
Options The challenge for industry is not mechanical recycling but the implementation of more sophisticated eco-efficient, large-scale technologies that will provide sustainable solutions for plastics waste streams. Key for plastics is their excellent performance during their useful life. A typical example is again the car: more than 85 percent of the energy, the main environmental impact factor, is used during the use phase, less than 3 percent is required for the waste treatment phase and about 6 percent for the production. Due to their lightweight character, the biggest contribution of plastics is in the use phase as they contribute substantially to save resources and reduce emissions. A pure focus on the end-of-life phase disregards the environmental issues. APME will also organize the third Identiplast in 2003, which will address current issues and discuss projects planned for the near future. The main issue to be addressed associated with end of life vehicles (ELVs) is long-term recycling targets - best, most eco-efficient practices. The importance of a cross chain approach - regarding a product from "cradle to grave" and all the players involved - is the most effective strategy when dealing with environmental issues. Maintaining proactive and constructive communications across the chain is critical in surmounting the challenges that lie ahead. Plastics from ELVs The European Thematic Network (ETN), a cross chain project of car industry, the plastics chain, recyclers, and shredders summarizes the current knowledge on the treatment of plastics from cars across Europe at www.plastics-in-ELV.org. For more information about APME, visit www.apme.org. About the author: Dr. Herbert Fisch has been director of Durables at APME since 1999. Prior to working at APME, he was employed at BASF in Germany where he held various positions in the areas of polymer research; including glass fiber reinforced and flame retardant thermoplastics. At APME, Dr. Fisch focuses on the automotive, E/E, building and construction market segments. He carries out a wide range of political activities with respect to plastics at the European level. Some of his activities imply initiatives and support for plastic recovery, joint efforts with automotive, E/E, and suppliers industry. Dr. Fisch also deals with issues associated with halogenated and non-halogenated flame retardant in plastics
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