Dr. Markus Steilemann Named New President of PlasticsEurope

Covestro CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann has become the new president of PlasticsEurope, the European plastics manufacturers association. The 50-year-old executive was appointed to this three-year position on Wednesday, 24 June 2020. Steilemann succeeds Javier Constante from Dow Chemical, who oversaw a fundamental reorganization of PlasticsEurope. Steilemann wants to focus the association's work more on sustainability and particularly the circular economy.

Steilemann said, "Given the many global challenges, plastics are vital to truly creating a sustainable future and making the circular economy a new guiding principle," and added "In this context, it is important to use end-of-life materials and waste as a source for new products. Under no circumstances should they continue to enter the environment uncontrolled. Furthermore, plastics in particular should be used as a sustainable material in as many areas as possible. In this way, our industry can and will help Europe advance toward sustainability."

In addition to his new position at PlasticsEurope, Steilemann was recently elected vice president of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI). He is also a member of the management board of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and president of the European Sustainable Chemistry Technology Platform SusChem. With offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris, PlasticsEurope represents approximately one hundred companies producing more than 90 percent of polymers in the 27 EU member states, as well as in Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.