K 2025 Shines a Light on the Crossroads of Sustainability and Innovation in Plastics
Special show Plastics Shape the Future to offer international discourse, innovations and impulses for a sustainable and competitive plastics industry on seven theme days
At K 2025 from 8 to 15 October in Düsseldorf the official Special, Plastics shape the Future, will address and disclose how the plastics industry drives the shift towards more sustainability, digitalisation and social responsibility. Organised jointly by Plastics Europe Deutschland and Messe Düsseldorf the special show will deliver insights into today’s status quo and outlook on transformation: presenting various focal themes each day, panel discussions with top representatives of political and scientific circles and NGOs, innovative start-ups and experts from industry – accompanied by interactive expert presentations, round tables, guided tours at the trade fair and networking activities at the Startup Pitch, Science and Poetry Slam and the “Women in Plastics” event.
Overview of the seven theme days
1) Kick-off Wednesday – The Power of Plastics (8 October)
Wednesday is competitiveness and sustainability day and will be launched with an opening attended by political representatives, business, and international associations. Two sessions led by Virginia Janssens (Managing Director, Plastics Europe) and Dr. Christine Bunte (Plastics Europe Deutschland) will showcase how innovation and investment propel the industry.
2) Circular Thursday (9 October)
On Thursday everything will revolve around circularity: moderated by Prof. Manfred Renner (Fraunhofer UMSICHT/CCPE) experts will shed light on circular-ready product design, regulatory challenges and circular business models in packaging, textiles, electronics, construction and automotive. The day will be rounded off by a panel discussion on chemical and mechanical recycling.
3) Climate Friday (10 October)
Friday will focus on climate protection and CO₂ reduction: topics span from avoiding pellet losses (OCS) to additive use to lifecycle analyses and the monetisation of sustainable products. A political panel will discuss the competitiveness of the European plastics industry as a driver for a sustainable economy.
4) Smart Saturday (11 October)
On Saturday digitalisation and artificial intelligence will be centerstage: PolyMaterials, INEOS, Covestro, Netzsch, the nova Institute, recycle and representatives from science, to name but a few, will flag up how AI optimises processes from material development to improved collection and sorting for recycling to the drawing up of sustainability reports.
5) Career Sunday (12 October)
Career Sunday will focus on people. Be it in recruiting through new channels via gaming or diversity, at two book presentations or the Science and Poetry Slam; not forgetting the networking event “Women in Plastics”
6) Innovation Monday (13 October)
Monday is reserved for start-ups and science: in two pitch sessions emerging companies will introduce themselves with solutions for recycling, digitalisation, material development and organic plastics. In addition, the WAK Prize will be presented by Prof. Moritzer (University of Paderborn). The concluding scientific panel will discuss the innovative power of plastics as an enabler for various key industries in Europe.
7) Visionary Tuesday (14 October)
The last but one day of K 2025 looks ahead of time – Plastics 2050: circular design, bio-based raw materials, CCU and the avoidance of micro plastics will be crucial topics. The keynote by Prof. Michael Braungart (Cradle to Cradle) as well as panels with leading representatives from industry and science show that the future of the industry is transforming – with high ambitions and concrete steps.
The programme will be predominantly in English.
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