Green Week 2012:

Plastics can help solve water scarcity issues, claims trade association 

Water is one of the most precious elements for mankind, one that is increasingly rare. Even in Europe, 20% to 40% of drinking water is wasted. But is there a solution to preserve it and provide for the needs of a growing world population? European plastic manufacturers believe so. Together with TEPPFA ‒ the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association ‒ PlasticsEurope will be participating in the European Commission’s Green Week 2012. Our experts will be answering all questions from the public and will showcase the benefits of plastic applications when it comes to water savings, enhanced water quality and efficient irrigation in regions suffering from water scarcity.  

“We strongly support the European Commission in its efforts to preserve water for current and future generations”, said Jan-Erik Johansson, Programme Director Resource Efficiency at PlasticsEurope. “The plastics industry is well-known for its constant innovation in water applications, while PlasticsEurope is strongly engaged in water preservation through various initiatives such as the Global Industry Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter and knowledge transfer in Europe towards a ban on landfill by 2020”. With 80% of marine litter originating from land, such ban would indeed represent an important step forward in the struggle for water preservation.

The common stand of PlasticsEurope and TEPPFA will welcome visitors with engaging activities such as quizzes, demonstration of plastic membrane filters to make contaminated water drinkable and the introduction of a brand new brochure on the benefits of plastic materials for water applications. Our experts will also share information on how plastics can provide better irrigation, reduce leakage, store and transport water over long distances, resist bacterial attacks and are key to the construction of the most efficient filtration systems.

For more information, join us at our Green Week stand, from May 22 to 25, in the Charlemagne building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1000 Brussels.

Editors’ note

PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU27 member states plus Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey.

The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. More than 1.6 million people are working in about 50.000 companies (mainly small and medium sized companies in the converting sector) to create a turnover in excess of 300 billion € per year.

The plastics industry includes polymer producers - represented by PlasticsEurope, converters - represented by EuPC and machine manufacturers - represented by EUROMAP. For further info see the web links: www.plasticseurope.org, www.plasticsconverters.eu, www.euromap.org.