Borealis to acquire MTM Plastics
Borealis, a Vienna-based base chemicals and polyolefins company, has agreed to acquire the German plastics recycling firms MTM Plastics GmbH and MTM Compact GmbH. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
MTM Plastics is heavily involved in the recycling of mixed postconsumer plastic scrap and is one of Europe’s largest producers of postconsumer polyolefin recyclables.
In announcing the proposed acquisition, Alfred Stern, Borealis executive vice president of polyolefins and innovation and technology, says, “Plastics are simply too valuable to be disposed of in landfills. Plastic recycling provides a circular business opportunity in a growing market within a broader sustainability agenda.”
Stern continues, “There are many areas in which mechanical recycling of postconsumer waste make business and ecological sense. The acquisition of MTM Plastics and MTM Compact reflects our pro-active and dedicated ‘keep discovering’ approach to provide specific and innovative solutions in tackling core global challenges.”
Michael Scriba, CEO of MTM, says, following the acquisition, “Together with our major partner Borealis on our side, we will continue the successful growth of the last years also in the future.”
Global plastics industry outlines plans to reduce marine litter
Leaders from the global plastics industry have announced that approximately 260 projects are planned, underway or completed as part of the Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, the industry’s public commitment to tackle plastic in the marine environment. The announcement came with the release of the plastics industry’s annual progress report.
“As a united, global industry, we’ve come a long way from where we started in 2011,” says Callum Chen from the Asia Plastics Forum. “Today we have active marine litter prevention programs occurring in all regions of the globe, and we are continually pursuing opportunities to grow our work.”
Forty-seven plastics associations launched the declaration March 2011 at the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference. Saying they recognize their important role in fighting marine litter, these plastics associations have launched and are supporting projects in six key areas aimed at contributing to sustainable solutions. The six focus areas of the declaration are education, research, public policy, sharing best practices, plastics recycling/recovery and plastic pellet containment.
“We’re very pleased with the continued growth in the work we’re doing on marine litter,” says Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, Washington. “Since our last report, we’ve increased the number of industry associations participating as part of the Global Declaration and demonstrated that, united, we can help make a difference.”
“Marine litter is a complex environmental challenge that requires joint efforts at the local, regional and global level,” says Karl-H. Foerster, executive director of PlasticsEurope, based in Brussels. “We look forward to continue developing and executing programs that address marine litter and work with governments, nongovernmental organizations, researchers and other stakeholders. It is critical that we have these partnerships and continue to bring additional stakeholders to the table to tackle this very serious issue.”
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