PAGEV Holds Sixth International Plastic Packaging Congress

The Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV) held the sixth edition of the "International Plastic Packaging Congress". The congress, which brought together experts, industry representatives and academics from Turkey and abroad, focused on "Current Threats and Opportunities in Plastic Packaging". Werner Bosmans, Policy Officer at the European Commission, shared firsthand with PAGEV Congress participants what has been discussed regarding plastic packaging in Europe. The 6th PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Congress hosted prominent figures including Alexander Dangis, General Director of EuPC, Giuseppe Riva, Regional Director of PlasticsEurope and Johannes Musseleck, Global Strategy Director at INEOS Styrolution in a "Circular Economy and Zero Waste" panel moderated by PAGEV Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu. Another notable speaker at the congress was Yoav Hoshen, Vice Chairman of Water.IO, creator of IoT Smart Packaging, one of the world's best practices in digital packaging trends. Smart packaging offers solutions through mobile applications and the internet that simplify users' lives. Thanks to Water.IO's smart caps attached to reusable water bottles, you can track from an application on your phone how much water you need to drink during the day.

In this way, the smart cap alerts you to drink water. Yoav Hoshen, in his presentation explaining how packaging used in many sectors is becoming smarter today, also provided important information about what awaits us in the future.

PAGEV Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, who delivered the opening speech of the congress, said: "Turkey's plastics sector contributes significantly to our country's economy with a turnover of USD 35 billion and an export capacity of USD 12 billion. Packaging, which accounts for 40 percent of the sector's production and 70 percent of its exports, constitutes one of the most important sub-sectors of our plastics industry. Looking at the performance evaluation of our plastic packaging sector, we see that in 2018, production reached 3.6 million tons in volume and USD 12 billion in value. Plastic is an irreplaceable material. With this characteristic, the plastics sector and plastic packaging sector will continue to grow. As we always say, plastics have no place in nature but much to do in our lives. The plastics sector will develop with new alternatives. Instead of producing, selling, consuming and discarding, our sector will undergo major transformation with the approach of producing, selling, consuming, recycling and producing again. As a plastics industry, we are building the infrastructure for this and making new investments in this area. In this way, plastic packaging will continue to grow both by preventing food waste and contributing to our country's economy. Particularly with the Zero Waste Project, Turkey's recycling sector will develop. The plastic packaging sector, with sustainable products, will achieve both environmental protection and development together. Both the sector will grow and our environment will be protected." he said.