Circular Plastics – Is BRICS a Threat to America? Since its inaugural summit in Yekaterinburg (2009), BRICS has evolved from a four‑nation club into a broad coalition that now counts 11 full members, nine partner countries, and dozens more waiting in line 25-04-2025 - Archive
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Hanover Gears Up for ITMA 2027: Europe’s Textile Tech Hub Returns to Germany
From 16–22 September 2027, Hanover will once again take center stage in the textile and garment world when ITMA, the industry’s largest technology showcase, comes back to Germany for the first time since 1991. Over 200,000 m² spread across 13 halls at the Messegelände Hannover will buzz with the latest machinery, digital tools, and sustainable solutions shaping the sector’s future.
A Winning Partnership
The successful bid, driven by Deutsche Messe, the City of Hanover, and Lord Mayor Belit Onay, underscores Hanover’s reputation for smooth, eco‑minded events. “Hanover is a green and efficient city with a relaxed atmosphere—an ideal, stress‑free destination for international visitors,” Onay said after the announcement. Circular Plastics
Room for Everyone
Welcoming tens of thousands of professionals demands serious bed space, and Hanover is ready. The city counts 18,000 hotel beds and the wider region another 54,000, while 4,000 private rentals add flexibility. A further 700 hotel rooms will open downtown next year, and an official campground opposite the venue will cater to motorhome and caravan travelers. Most stays lie within 30–90 minutes of the fairground, notes Dr Jochen Koeckler, Chair of Deutsche Messe’s Board.
Hassle‑Free Booking
To simplify logistics, ITMA Services has appointed bnetwork—the destination‑management team behind recent Barcelona editions—as official travel partner. A dedicated booking portal launches soon, but groups can already email itmahotels@bnetwork.com for early enquiries. Circular Plastics
Seamless Connections
Hanover’s international airport offers direct routes across Europe and beyond, while high‑speed rail links the city to major German hubs in hours. On site, light rail delivers visitors straight to Messegelände entrances, and 39,000 parking spots keep drivers worry‑free.
What’s Next?
CEMATEX President Alex Zucchi is confident: “Hanover has the infrastructure to support a huge congregation of exhibitors and visitors. We’re sure ITMA 2027 will be as seamless as past editions.” Key milestones—like the official website launch and stand‑space applications—arrive July 2025.
For context, ITMA 2023 in Milan hosted 1,709 exhibitors from 47 nations and attracted 111,000+ visitors representing 143 countries. Expect Hanover to aim even higher. Circular Plastics
Stay tuned: we’ll share registration details, travel tips, and program highlights as they roll out—so you can plan your 2027 textile tech journey with confidence.
Reju Teams Up with Rematrix to Secure Post‑Consumer Textiles for Circular Fashion
Textile‑to‑textile recycler Reju has struck a strategic deal with Italian producer‑responsibility organization Rematrix to lock in a reliable stream of end‑of‑life garments. The partnership, announced last week, aims to help fashion brands meet Europe’s expanding extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules while tackling the mounting problem of post‑consumer textile waste.
How the partnership works
Rematrix already coordinates take‑back, rental, repair and recycling programs for apparel companies across Europe. Under the new agreement, it will funnel collected garments directly to Reju’s Regeneration Hub, guaranteeing a long‑term supply of waste textiles for chemical recycling. Circular Plastics
Why it matters for brands
EPR legislation is tightening across the EU, making producers accountable for a product’s entire life cycle. By tying up with Rematrix, Reju offers brands a turnkey route to compliance: garments are gathered, traceably transported and regenerated into high‑quality recycled polyester without detours to landfill or incineration.
Reju’s growth plans
Backed by technology provider Technip Energies, Reju opened its first plant in Germany last October. The small‑scale facility can turn 1,000 t/yr of PET‑rich fabrics into virgin‑quality resin. Two full‑scale sites—one in Europe, another in the U.S.—are scheduled for 2027, each targeting 50,000 t/yr of output.
The ultimate goal: build a global network of “Regeneration Hubs” that close the loop on polyester textiles. Circular Plastics
Bigger picture
With polyester garments accounting for over half of global fiber use and EPR rules on the rise, scalable chemical recycling is fast becoming a must‑have for circular fashion. The Reju‑Rematrix alliance positions both companies—and their brand partners—at the forefront of this transition.
Circular Plastics Gears Up to Launch Second rPET Plant in Vietnam
Singapore‑headquartered Circular Plastics (CPC) is set to switch on its newest recycling facility in Ba Ria‑Vung Tau, Vietnam, in late May. The expansion strengthens CPC’s footprint in Southeast Asia and supports the region’s shift toward a circular economy.
What the new plant adds
- 25,000 t/yr of rPET flakes
- 14,000 t/yr of rPET pellets
These volumes will come on top of production from CPC’s first site in Yangon, Myanmar, which already turns out 18,000 t/yr of flakes and 14,000 t/yr of food‑grade pellets. Once the Vietnamese line is fully operational, CPC’s combined capacity will exceed 71,000 t/yr, making it one of the region’s leading suppliers of recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Circular Plastics
Why it matters
rPET is the go‑to material for brands looking to hit recycled‑content targets in beverage bottles and other consumer packaging. By scaling up, CPC can provide global FMCG and drink majors with a steadier flow of high‑quality, food‑safe resin, helping them meet tightening sustainability mandates.
Regional momentum
Vietnam has emerged as a recycling hotspot thanks to government incentives and its deep‑water ports, which streamline export logistics. CPC’s choice of Ba Ria‑Vung Tau—close to Ho Chi Minh City and key shipping routes—cuts transit times and carbon footprints for customers across Asia‑Pacific. Circular Plastics
Looking ahead
With demand for certified rPET still outstripping supply, CPC’s May start‑up couldn’t be better timed. The company says it will keep exploring additional sites in Southeast Asia to meet brand owners’ rapid pivot toward circular packaging solutions.
Is BRICS a Threat to America?
Since its inaugural summit in Yekaterinburg (2009), BRICS has evolved from a four‑nation club into a broad coalition that now counts 11 full members, nine partner countries, and dozens more waiting in line. The bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia—now speaks for over half the world’s population and roughly 40 percent of global trade.
At its core, BRICS promotes reforms that give the Global South a louder voice inside institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, UN Security Council, and WTO.
The goal: dilute the dominance of a handful of Western powers and shape a more multipolar order. Circular Plastics
BRICS nations have already shown how this approach diverges from the G7. During the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, none joined Washington‑led sanctions. Instead, members like India and China took advantage of discounted Russian oil and gas—softening the sanctions’ bite while boosting their own economies.
That independence worries Washington, particularly because three sanctioned adversaries—China, Russia, and Iran—sit inside the tent. Add the bloc’s economic muscle (its combined GDP overtook the G7’s in 2025) and its fastest‑growing markets, and the anxiety mounts.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump recently captured that concern, threatening 100 percent tariffs on BRICS members if they roll out a common currency designed to sideline the dollar.
He even declared the grouping “dead” unless it backs down. India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar quickly countered that New Delhi has no plan to “attack” the dollar; BRICS, he argued, is about consensus‑building, not confrontation. Circular Plastics
So, is America facing a genuine threat? The answer depends on perspective. For Washington, a stronger BRICS challenges dollar primacy and U.S. leverage. For many developing nations, the bloc offers an overdue counterweight that could make the global playing field fairer. How the U.S. chooses to engage—contain, compete, or cooperate—will shape not only BRICS’ trajectory but the architecture of tomorrow’s world economy.
Strong Export Gains Help Offset Domestic Decline for Italian Plastics Machinery in 2024
Italy’s plastics and rubber machinery industry faced a 3% decline in overall turnover in 2024, following record-breaking years in 2022 and 2023. According to Amaplast, the country’s trade association, this dip was driven by a weaker domestic market—but strong export performance helped balance the books.
Exports Remain the Bright Spot
Exports rose for the fourth year in a row, up 1.5% to €3.62 billion. This growth was driven by rising demand in key markets like Brazil, China, India, and Turkey. In contrast, imports dropped nearly 7%, barely passing €1 billion.
Exports now make up about 75% of Italy’s total production. A final-quarter surge, especially in December, led to a revised upward forecast. Circular Plastics
Regional Trends: Mixed Performance
While exports to the EU (down 4.7%) and North America (down 2.3%) declined, Asia/Oceania (+10.2%), South America (+4.5%), and Africa (+20%) saw strong growth. Brazil stood out with an 86% increase, while China and India posted gains of around 15%.
Germany, Italy’s top trade partner, saw a modest 1.6% decline, while France (+13.2%) and Turkey (+15%) showed positive trends. The U.S. market dropped by 4%, impacted by new trade policies under the Trump administration.
Machinery Types: Winners and Losers
Blow moulding machines saw strong demand, particularly in the U.S., UK, France, and Turkey. Flexographic printing machines and presses also performed well, growing by 5% and 59% respectively. However, injection and extrusion machinery exports fell 7%, and moulds declined by 5%. Circular Plastics
Outlook for 2025
Despite global tensions, Amaplast noted signs of recovery early in 2025, including from the domestic market. Still, a full rebound isn’t expected before the second half of the year.
TotalEnergies to Shut Down Antwerp Cracker by 2027
TotalEnergies has announced it will close one of its two ethylene crackers at its Antwerp petrochemical hub by the end of 2027. This move comes in response to ethylene overcapacity in the European market.
The cracker scheduled for closure is the oldest of the two and was historically operated under a third-party supply agreement, which is no longer being renewed. As the unit no longer meets the internal needs of TotalEnergies, its continued operation has become unsustainable. Circular Plastics
The company will now focus on the newer, more efficient cracker at the site, which supplies ethylene exclusively to TotalEnergies’ own facilities in Antwerp and Feluy. This shift aims to optimize operations and improve integration across the supply chain.
Despite the shutdown, no job losses are expected. The 253 workers impacted will be offered redeployment within the company or early retirement. TotalEnergies has confirmed that a consultation process with trade unions will begin before the end of the month to ensure a smooth transition.
The Antwerp site, a cornerstone of TotalEnergies’ European operations for over 75 years, will continue to evolve. The company plans to invest in decarbonizing the platform, with projects focused on green hydrogen production, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and battery energy storage. Circular Plastics
As TotalEnergies’ largest integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Europe, the Antwerp hub includes a refinery with a 338,000-barrel-per-day capacity, a petrochemical plant, and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit. It also features pipelines transporting up to 6 million tonnes of ethylene and propylene annually to Feluy, Belgium.
This strategic closure marks a step toward a more sustainable, efficient future for TotalEnergies’ European operations.
