Future of the European Shopping Bag Industry

18-Aug-06

The European plastic shopping bag industry is currently facing challenges from rising levels of Asian imports, high raw material costs and moves for the use of alternative products. At the same time political moves may limit supply options or mandate the use of certain feedstocks.AMI's Retail Bags 2006 conference, which will take place from 17-19 October in Cologne, will provide a forum to debate the current position and future direction of the industry. The conference will cover a range of current technical and commercial issues facing the industry including polymer availability, the role of biodegradable products and moves against the import of bags from Asia at the EU level. This event is designed to provide a unique international forum for all companies involved in the plastic shopping bag industry be they producers, distributors, importers or suppliers to the industry. In the legislation session, Mr. Benoit Servais from Van Bael & Bellis will speak on EC Anti-dumping rules and their application to polyethylene bags imports from Asia. There will also be a paper from Plasteurofilm's Secretary General, Mr. Antoine Seyrig, on Plastic bags today and tomorrow - new trends on polymer sources and degradability. The business forum will include global presentations including 2 papers given by major bag producers, THAI PLASTIC BAGS INDUSTRIES Co. Ltd. from Thailand and ADVANCE POLYBAG Inc. from the United States. Other key presentations will include a paper from Mr. Michael Stephens, Technical Director at Symphony Environmental about biodegradable packaging and lesson learned and a speech from Mr. Jayson Clark, Managing Director at CFN Packaging Group Ltd on environmentally friendly polythene. RETAIL BAGS 2006 will be held at the Maritim hotel in Cologne, Germany, from 17-19 October 2006. (Press Release)