BIR Valencia 2025 – Shaping the future of plastics recycling: Policy, innovation and global market trends
Shaping the future of plastics recycling: Policy, innovation and global market trends
At a time when the plastics recycling industry continues to face intense market pressure, evolving global policy frameworks, and uncertainty in material flows, the upcoming Plastics Division plenary session at the BIR World Recycling Convention & Exhibition in Valencia will provide essential insights and direction for recyclers worldwide. From weak demand and volatile pricing to increasing scrutiny from international regulators, plastics recyclers must adapt quickly to survive and thrive in today’s environment.
The session will open with a market overview by Plastics Division President Henk Alssema, addressing the economic, policy, and structural shifts influencing plastics recycling globally.
A first presentation by Kay Riksfjord, REVAC AS (Norway) and Board Member of the BIR Plastics Division, titled “Opportunities and Challenges in WEEE Recycling”, will highlight the complexities and potential of recovering plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment.
A second presentation by Alev Somer, BIR Trade & Environment Director, will provide the latest updates on the International Plastics Treaty negotiations (INC), including the outcomes of the 5th round of negotiations recently held in Busan and what lies ahead for recyclers worldwide.
The presentations will be followed by a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Henk Alssema, featuring BIR Plastics Division board members Sally Houghton, Max Craipeau and Bashar Ehsan Gadawala, alongside the session’s speakers.
Sally Hough
ton, PET Recycling Corporation of California – PRCC (USA)
With extensive experience in the U.S. domestic market, she will bring valuable insight on how recyclers are navigating shifting policy landscapes.
Max C
raipeau, Greencore Resources Ltd (Hong Kong SAR China)
A long-time advocate for sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region, he will share perspectives from a global operator engaged in plastic recycling across diverse regulatory and market environments.
Bashar Ehsan Gadawala, ALA International FZE (United Arab Emirates)
With hands-on experience in both metal and plastics recycling, Bashar will bring a valuable perspective from the Middle East. As Director of Operations at a Dubai-based facility established in 2019, he will contribute regional insights to the global discussion on plastics recycling.
Join us on Wednesday 28 May 2025 for a timely and forward-looking discussion featuring international voices from across the plastics value chain.
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