K - The World’s No. I Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber

K - The World’s No. I Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber Welcome to K – The World's No.1 Trade fair and the world's leading and most important trade fair for the global plastics and rubber industry.
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What does the end of a vehicle's life look like in a truly circular economy? ♻️BMW Group has announced the development o...
15/07/2026

What does the end of a vehicle's life look like in a truly circular economy? ♻️

BMW Group has announced the development of a new Competence Center Circularity (CCC) at its Wackersdorf site - a significant expansion of the group's existing Recycling and Dismantling Center, which has been developing and testing recycling processes for over 30 years.
The new facility is set to open in early 2029.

The scope goes well beyond what the current center delivers. New areas include the recycling of hydrogen vehicles, automation of dismantling processes and the development of expertise in innovative shredding and sorting technologies. Process, material and technology development will be more closely integrated with operational vehicle recycling than ever before.

The strategic logic is clear. As Jörg Lederbauer, Vice President Circular Economy at BMW Group, puts it: keeping materials in the cycle as long as possible reduces dependency on primary raw materials and significantly lowers the CO₂ footprint of future vehicles.

The impact already extends far beyond BMW's own operations - around 3,000 businesses in 32 countries use a shared recycling database developed through the Recycling and Dismantling Center, helping the wider industry improve dismantling efficiency and material recovery.

For the Wackersdorf site, this is a strong signal for the future. Stefan Betz, Head of the Wackersdorf site, sees the CCC as broadening the foundation of a location that has demonstrated flexibility across cockpit manufacturing, battery testing and international supply for decades. André Mandl, Works Council Chair for BMW Group Regensburg and Wackersdorf, highlights the importance of this decision for employees - a future-oriented field that the works council actively supported.

Circular economy is no longer a strategic goal sitting on a roadmap.
At BMW Group, it is becoming operational infrastructure. ⚙️

13/07/2026

What if packaging could dry your food during transport - naturally? 🔬

Rolf Minkwitz, R&D expert for polyamide at BASF, introduces Ultramid® H - a world first that combines the mechanical strength of polyamides with high water permeability. Thinner than collagen, stronger than cellulose, and fully recyclable.

Already used in sausage casings, the material allows smoke and moisture to pass through during processing. And looking ahead: imagine wet grapes packaged in Chile, arriving in Europe naturally dried and oxygen-protected - no additional processing required.

Intelligent material design that goes beyond protection - and actively contributes to product quality across the supply chain. 🌍

▶️ Watch the full interview to hear Rolf explain how Ultramid® H is shaping the future of food packaging.

The PVC industry is not waiting for transformation to happen - it is actively driving it. ♻️On 1 July 2026, the PVC Summ...
10/07/2026

The PVC industry is not waiting for transformation to happen - it is actively driving it. ♻️

On 1 July 2026, the PVC Summer Symposium took place in Frankfurt, organised jointly by Plastics Europe Deutschland and VinylPlus Deutschland. Nearly 70 participants from across the PVC value chain came together to discuss the practical implementation of the updated VinylPlus 2030 sustainability commitment.

The updated programme shifts focus beyond volume targets: greater emphasis on recycling quality, product-specific CO2 footprint reduction, and stronger market impact through intensified partnerships - inside and beyond the industry's own value chain.

The technical programme reflected exactly these priorities. Presentations covered process stability of recyclates in extrusion, life cycle assessments of chemical recycling processes, bio-attributed PVC compounds and the latest regulatory developments on plasticisers - with contributions from Dr. Robert Weddige (KraussMaffei Extrusion), Dr. Christian Kühne (THINKTANK Industrielle Ressourcenstrategien), Onno-Pieter Sonnega (PlastChem) and Nadine Engel (Evonik Oxeno).

Dr. Oliver Mieden, Chairman of VinylPlus Deutschland, captured the mood: the industry is moving forward - but competitiveness requires investable framework conditions, reduced bureaucracy and affordable energy costs alongside technical progress.

As Dr. Ralf Düssel, Chairman of the Association of Plastics Producers in Germany, noted in his opening: in times of geopolitical tensions and growing competitive pressure, dialogue, knowledge transfer and strong networks are what create shared perspectives for the future. 🌍

Exactly the kind of industry exchange that K exists to amplify across the global plastics and rubber community. ⚙️

Colombia's plastics and rubber industry is growing fast - and there is still space at the table. 🌎ColombiaPlast 2026 is ...
09/07/2026

Colombia's plastics and rubber industry is growing fast - and there is still space at the table. 🌎

ColombiaPlast 2026 is shaping up to be another strong edition. With around 300 exhibitors expected - roughly half from Colombia, half international - the event continues to bring together the latest technologies and solutions for one of Latin America's most dynamic markets.

The numbers speak for themselves: the plastics, rubber, petrochemical, container and packaging sector represents approximately 16% of Colombia's annual manufacturing GDP. As the third-largest market in the region after Brazil and Mexico - and strategically positioned as a gateway to Latin America - Colombia offers compelling opportunities for international suppliers, particularly given the market's strong reliance on imports.

We are proud to be co-organising ColombiaPlast for the third time since 2022, together with our partners Corferias and Acoplásticos - bringing together the global K Alliance network with professionals from across Colombia, the Americas and beyond.

German exhibitors are already on board, including Reifenhäuser, Collin, Krones, Britas and Günther - and we are targeting more than 6,000 net sqm of exhibition space once again. There is still room available, and we welcome further enquiries. ⚙️

Interested in exhibiting? Reach out to our colleagues Robert Nikolic and Alexander Düring, who are happy to support international exhibitors with all questions.

👉 Learn more about ColombiaPlast 2026: https://bit.ly/4fb515x

It is garden season - and what ends up in your green bin might one day end up in your packaging. 🌿Researchers at the Uni...
05/07/2026

It is garden season - and what ends up in your green bin might one day end up in your packaging. 🌿

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg are working on exactly that. The EcoPBS project aims to produce bioplastics entirely from organic waste streams - garden clippings, hay and algae. Through a combination of fermentation, multi-stage chemical processes and AI-assisted optimisation, the goal is a material consisting of 100% organic waste.

The target material is polybutylene succinate (PBS) - a biodegradable polymer with properties comparable to PP and PE, and a wide range of potential applications in packaging and medical technology. The project is still at the research stage, but the shift in perspective it represents is significant: waste is not a problem to be managed - it is a raw material waiting to be used.

This sits within a broader transformation that the latest K-Mag article explores in depth. The industry is increasingly asking not just how plastics are recycled, but what they are made of in the first place. From compostable coffee capsules made from bio-based compounds to plastics grown from garden residues - sustainability is starting at the very beginning of the value chain. 🌍

The future of plastics raw materials may be growing in your backyard right now.

👉 Read the full story in the K-Mag: https://bit.ly/4ajzUSK

Something big is taking shape on the Messe Düsseldorf grounds - and K will be one of the first to benefit. 🏗️In early Ju...
03/07/2026

Something big is taking shape on the Messe Düsseldorf grounds - and K will be one of the first to benefit. 🏗️

In early June 2026, construction officially began on the comprehensive modernisation of Hall 9. Excavators are already removing the existing façade - the starting signal for one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Messe Düsseldorf Masterplan.

By April 2028 - just in time for K - the transformed Hall 9 will be fully operational. What does that mean for the world's leading trade fair for plastics and rubber?

Around 2,000 square metres of additional exhibition space - room for more exhibitors, larger installations and new formats that reflect the scale of innovation the plastics and rubber industry brings to Düsseldorf every three years. A new entrance building with additional access points and expanded conference facilities - creating more opportunities for industry dialogue, networking and side events directly on the exhibition grounds. A fully modernised, flexible hall that can accommodate the formats the industry needs: from large machinery demonstrations to sustainability showcases and live production environments. ⚙️

K brings together the global plastics and rubber community every three years.
With Hall 9 ready and expanded, the next edition will have even more space to make that happen. 🌍

👉 More information on the Hall 9 project: https://bit.ly/4uKMtxz

Young professionals are reshaping how the plastics industry thinks about its own future. 🤝On 18 June, the IK Industrieve...
02/07/2026

Young professionals are reshaping how the plastics industry thinks about its own future. 🤝

On 18 June, the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen launched its new format "NextGen Plastics" - a dynamic platform giving young professionals and emerging leaders space for honest, peer-level dialogue. The Düsseldorf location Dr. Thompsons Seifenfabrik became a thinking space for the future of packaging for one day.

Climate activist Carla Reemtsma (Fridays for Future) delivered a keynote that sparked intense discussion on responsibility and defossilisation - making a clear case that genuine transformation requires consistent sufficiency and radical circular economy thinking where it matters most. Journalist Eva Schulz (Deutschland 3000) moderated with energy and media expertise, guiding the conversation throughout the day.

The heart of the event was result-oriented work in moderated workshops on communication, recyclate use and NextGen Power - led by Axel Subklew (Initiative Mülltrennung wirkt), Heinz-Henning Seute (LH Plastics) and Eva Schulz respectively.

As IK Managing Director Mara Hancker puts it: the industry's shift from linear to circular thinking requires a symbiosis of fresh thinking, radical honesty and established expertise - and supporting young talent with real space for their own ideas benefits the entire industry.

A strong example of how the plastics packaging industry is investing in the people who will shape its next chapter. ⚙️

The next K is still two years away - and the work starts now. 🤝On 25 June, we welcomed selected K exhibitors to our Exhi...
30/06/2026

The next K is still two years away - and the work starts now. 🤝

On 25 June, we welcomed selected K exhibitors to our Exhibitor Workshop at Messe Düsseldorf. Together, we reviewed the full arc of K - from preparation and setup to the show itself and dismantling - and had an open, constructive exchange about how we can further improve processes and the overall exhibitor experience.

Feedback like this is invaluable. The insights and ideas shared by our exhibitors directly shape how we plan and organise K 2028 - because the best trade fair experience is built together, not in isolation.

A sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and contribute their expertise. We are already looking forward to shaping K 2028 together. 🌍

26/06/2026

Mono-material packaging that is ready for mechanical recycling - using existing PE recycling streams. ♻️

Tobias Lanksweirt, Sales Director at Brückner Maschinenbau - the leading manufacturer of biaxial oriented film production lines - explains how BOPE is moving from promising technology to industrial reality.

The concept is straightforward: BOPE-HD as a print layer, BOPE-LLDPE as a sealing layer - one material family throughout the entire packaging structure. Combined with Brückner's inline coating process, applied between the MDO and TDO stretching units, the result is exceptional barrier performance and bonding strength after metallization - all within a mono-material structure that feeds directly into existing recycling infrastructure.

But packaging is only half the picture for Brückner. Technical films for capacitors, battery separators and energy storage applications - driven by the growth of AI, data centres and electric vehicles - represent an equally significant opportunity. Two very different markets, one shared platform of film production expertise. ⚙️

The direction is clear: sustainable packaging solutions on one side, high-tech film applications for the industries of tomorrow on the other.

▶️ Watch the full interview with Tobias to learn how Brückner is shaping the future of film production - across both worlds.

Saudi PPPP 2026 opened its doors - and it marked a significant milestone for Messe Düsseldorf in the Kingdom of Saudi Ar...
25/06/2026

Saudi PPPP 2026 opened its doors - and it marked a significant milestone for Messe Düsseldorf in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 🌍

While this was the 21st edition of Saudi Plastics & Petrochem and Saudi Print & Pack, it was the first under a new strategic partnership between Messe Düsseldorf and Riyadh Exhibitions Company - bringing the combined expertise of K, interpack and drupa to one of the world's most dynamic growth markets.

Running from 21 to 24 June 2026 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre as part of Riyadh International Industry Week, the event connected the Kingdom's plastics, packaging and printing industries with global expertise, international networks and decades of trade fair experience.

Marius J. Berlemann, COO of Messe Düsseldorf, was on site in Riyadh for the opening - representing K, interpack and drupa at this historic first edition of the new partnership. 🇸🇦

A heartfelt thank you to His Excellency Deputy Minister Khalil bin Salama for his strong support, and to the entire team at Riyadh Exhibitions Company for their outstanding commitment in bringing this collaboration to life. 🤝

The global plastics and rubber community was in Riyadh last week - and K was proud to be part of it. 🌍

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