NextGen Plastics: New impetus for the plastics packaging industry

How can the transition to a circular plastics economy be shaped – and what role does the next generation play in this? With its new ‘ ’ NextGen Plastics initiative, the German Plastics Packaging Industry Association ( , IK) has created a platform where young professionals and young leaders, together with industry experts, developed ideas for the transformation of the plastics packaging industry.

Climate activist Carla Reemtsma kicked off the programme with a keynote speech on the industry’s responsibility in the climate crisis. The subsequent discussion centred on the question of how decarbonisation, the circular economy and economic realities can be reconciled. Reemtsma advocated a consistent circular economy and sufficiency as key components of a sustainable transformation.

In workshops on communication, the use of recycled materials and the role of the next generation in the sector, the participants developed further ideas. According to the IK, the results are to be incorporated into the association’s future work.