Day 1: Sunday
09:00-09:05
Welcome remarks by Emcee
09:05-09:10
Opening remarks
Naser Aldousari
CEO, EQUATE Group and Chairman – Plastics Committee, GPCA
09:10-09:30
Keynote session: Sustainability at the centre of strategy – How the plastic industry is redefining itself
09:30-10:15
Plastic is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. The amount of plastic produced is expected to double by 2030, and then double again by 2050. The downside of this boom is plastic waste that ends up in the environment in huge quantities, causing environmental and economic damages. The plastic economy is also a major contributor to climate-change. However, the problem with plastic does not begin at the end of the pipe, but rather at the start. Plastic that cannot be avoided or substituted must be designed and produced more sustainably, used more sparingly, applied more purposefully, and finally be collected without exception and reused wherever possible. This will not happen on its own. It requires a common and binding global framework of action.
- How can collaboration along the extended global plastic packaging production and after-use value chain, as well as with governments and NGOs, achieve systemic change to overcome stalemates in today’s plastics economy in order to move to a more circular model?
- Global plastic governance landscape, implications for the industry in the context of global commitments and identify gaps in the existing framework.
- The regional action policy scenario, opportunities and obstacles with the GCC and the evolving business models, consumption models
Moderation by:
Panellists:
Udit Arora
Head of Committees Affairs & Economic Research (A), GPCA
Harith Al-Qurtas
Chief Adviser, Ministry Industry Mineral Resources
Martyn Tickner
Chief Advisor, Circular Solutions, AEPW
Maryam Al Mansoori
General Manager, Rebound Plastics Exchange
10:15-11:00
Plastic production is growing every year. Fuelled by increasing consumer demand for packaged products, plastic plays a major role in packaging due to its durability, processibility and chemical stability. Converters and recyclers are key in all aspects of change and their involvement will drive the agenda for the next decades. Plastics converters and compounders commit to using more recycled plastics materials (rPM) in final applications, provided the quality and material availability are secured and brand owners or specifiers are willing to request more recyclates in their specifications. The containers and packaging sector, and related sectors such as food and beverage and consumer goods, face reputational and regulatory pressures to use alternative materials and recycled content at scale. This creates opportunities for companies to collaborate and find solutions with different players across the value chain.
- Understanding the importance of ESG for the plastics conversion industry
- Using the plastics innovation engine to move the industry into a positive spiral of value capture, stronger economics, and better environmental outcomes.
- The four key levers that are essential to bend the plastics curve: markets for recycled (secondary) plastics, technological innovation in plastics, domestic policy measures and international co-operation, including international financing.
- How can we coordinate and drive communication of the nature of today’s situation, the vision of the Circular Plastics Economy, and share best practices and insights.
Teaser ppt and moderation by:
Panellist:
Dr. Yahya Anouti
Partner & ESG Leader, PwC Strategy& Middle East
Surendra Patawari
Founder & CEO, Gemini
11:00-11:30
Coffee break
11:30-12:15
Is there an economic incentive for product manufacturers to reduce the use of plastic in their products and how do we address this? Can we shift the responsibility of the end-of-life management of products and materials to their respective producers? EPR systems have been implemented since 1970, but a significant increase in adoption can be seen in the last decade. It is expected by 2025 that many MEA countries will begin to adopt EPR into their legislation or begin to introduce framework regulations.
Through this session speakers will address:
- Significance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the main goals in establishing this kind of a system
- Reviewing best-in-class EPR schemes that have been successful around the world
- How is the GCC working towards developing regulations for EPR.
Moderated by:
Panellists:
Hani Tohme
Senior Partner, Head of Sustainability MENA, Roland Berger
Antonello Ciotti
President – PETCORE Europe, Sr. Buss. Director EAMAEI – Dow P&SP recycling
Gerald Rebitzer
Director Sustainability, Amcor Flexibles
12:15-13:30
Lunch and prayers
13:30-14:00
The use of plastics has increased twentyfold in the past 50 years. The Global Recycled Plastics market is likely to growth at a substantial rate between 2023 and 2028. In 2023, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the increasing adoption of tactics by key players, the market is predicted to rise over the projected horizon. Potential suppliers of recycled plastics do not invest sufficiently in sorting and recycling capacity because the profitability of these operations is limited. Potential buyers (i.e. manufacturing firms) have limited incentives to use recycled plastics as inputs because of uncertainty about their availability and quality. The market is continuously seeking carbon neutral solution to meet the increasing stringent regulation and these outcomes could improve significantly if these issues were addressed. There is an urgency of rethinking the plastics pollution and closing loop among the plastic circularity, this has driven new trends on the plastic value chain, from the feedstock, manufacturing, application, and recycling of plastics, involving the brand owners, convertors, machineries, and plastic producers as well.
Let us look at this through the lens of a brand owner and how did they rethink the way they design, use, and reuse plastics to create a circular economy for plastic?
14:00-14:30
Machinery suppliers to share latest developments and cutting-edge technologies that optimise productivity, resource efficiency, lower its energy consumption, reduce costs.
Michael Ahlgrimm
Technical director, Coperion
Marouane Mansour
General Manager, Coperion Middle East Co. Ltd
14:30-15:15
There are three main routes for plastic disposal: recycling, incineration, or landfills. Achieving a circular economy will require eliminating incineration and landfill streams – the current managed plastic waste routes. Companies struggle with the value assessment of complex material/ waste streams. This session covers the differences in recycling structures globally and the different types of recycling processes. With many innovative technologies coming out the focus is now on upscaling session will also focus on:
- The current state of affairs and how to mature advanced recycling technologies and setting up end-to-end partnerships.
- Underline how waste extraction is critical to meet the objective of a circular economy.
- Do we need specialised infrastructure to extract valuable components?
- Industrial segments that present challenges to recyclers: multilayer packaging/ flexible films and fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites.
Moderated by:
Panellists:
Jonny Goyal
Director, Research and Analysis, Chemical Market Analytics
Steve Mahon
CEO, Mura Technology
Ronald Richa
GM Plastic Recycling – Repeet, Veolia Middle East
Dr. Saumitra Saxena
Research Scientist, Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC), KAUST
15:15-15:20
Closing by Emcee
Day 2: Monday
09:00-09:05
Welcome remarks by Emcee
09:05-09:10
Opening remarks
Khalid S. Al-Kuwari
CEO, Q-Chem and Vice-Chairman – Plastics Committee, GPCA
09:10-09:30
The integral part of the circular economy is re-using products and ensuring asset utilisation. Increasing environmental consciousness means more consumers are pro-actively recycling than ever before, as well as concerted efforts towards plastic-alternatives through biodegradable waste.
As we move forward, it will be important to shift consumer attitudes on the perception of recycled material, as well as consumer desires for new products. Brands must reduce the price-quality ratio of manufacturing to demonstrate circular options that produce tangible advantages such as lower costs.
- Understanding the macroeconomic trends including the circular plastic economy and how they’re impacting the industry.
- The impact of urbanisation, deglobalisation, and international trade flows on the plastics industry.
- How are fast-changing regulations in the GCC region impacting the future prospects of the plastics industry?
09:30-10:15
Since its inception in the 1960s, the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf has made a tremendous contribution to the regional economy through job creation, economic diversification, and by stimulating the creation of other industries and value chains. GCC national visions aim to develop local automotive industry as it’s a key driver of macroeconomic growth and technological advancement in developing and developed countries. The role of plastic in the design and manufacturing of automotive vehicles has never been more essential, with stringent regulations and changing consumer habits driving demand for more affordable, lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles. Through this session, we will look at the growing role for plastic applications in transportation and how it is also enhancing the GCC's drive towards sustainability.
- Drivers that will help develop an automotive industry in the Arabian Gulf over the next decade
- In the journey to deliver Saudi Arabia’s Vision for 2030, are there an areas that need improvement or focus?
- How has inflation, rising fuel prices, focus on sustainability impacted the auto industry? Is the plastics industry equipped to assist in this transition to green mobility solutions?
- How can the export-oriented plastics industry support the development of a regional automotive industry?
Moderated by:
Panellist:
Muhamad Fadhil
SVP, Strategy and Business Development, Argus Media
Dr. Fahd Aldohish
President & CEO, SNAM Automobiles Industries Co
Dr. Raed Al Zubi
GM, Arabian Chemical Company Latex
10:15-10:45
Coffee break
10:45-11:30
According to the World Economic Forum, the engineering and construction industry is the world’s largest consumer of raw materials. As the global demand for hydrocarbon products continues its upwards march, Oil & Gas reserves in ever more demanding environments must be utilised. This places greater demands on the equipment used to explore for and produce the hydrocarbons on which modern life is based. These challenges include exposure of equipment to highly abrasive environments with highly variable temperatures, high mechanical loads, extreme weathering conditions as well as corrosive chemicals. Plastics’ versatility makes them a must-have material in building and construction. The plastic waste stream must be diverted by adopting circular models.
A circular economy requires systemic innovation throughout the value chain and across important life-cycle stages of a building: (1) material and component manufacture, (2) design and planning and (3) end-of-life. Through this session let’s look at,
- How modern technical plastics have a major contribution towards improving existing solutions in the oil and gas industry due to state-of-the-art materials that offer a greater range of benefits?
- Advancements in plastic piping and how irradiated plastic not only helps improve the strength of concrete but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb energy consumption.
- How are plastics supporting the impressive growth in LEED certified buildings with the GCC?
Panellist:
Abdulrahman Al-Awwad
Pipe Technology Sr. Manager, SABIC
11:30-12:15
"Polymers Park” has the potential to produce up to around 400,000 tonnes of plastics annually for uses including packaging, construction, and semi-finished products. The global polymer market is expected to grow from $439.28bn in 2021 to $616.82bn by 2028 due to its multiple applications across FMCG, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Polymers Park has been specifically designed for the global plastic and polymers industry and has evolved significantly since its launch in 2019, serving as a catalyst to propel the polymers downstream sector in the UAE. In line with the rising demand for the development of a robust national polymer sector, let’s look at the following:
- How are value parks accelerating investment and innovation in the region’s plastics industry?
- Is the current collaboration with stakeholders from across the value chain, including polymer manufacturers, converters, and service providers proving to be effective or do they need to improve their value proposition?
- How can the value parks support the development of new value chains within the region?
Moderator:
Panellist:
David Lines
GM – GCC & Global Business Development Manager – Petrochemicals, Astra Polymers Compounding Co. Ltd.
Ahmed Al Zahrani
VP – Business & Services, Sadara Chemical Company
Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed Alkuwi
Plastic Park Project Manager, Madayn
12:15-12:30
Closing remarks
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun
Secretary General, GPCA
12:30
Lunch and prayers
- 14 May 2023
Day 1: Sunday
09:00-09:05
Welcome remarks by Emcee
09:05-09:10
Opening remarks
Naser Aldousari
CEO, EQUATE Group and Chairman – Plastics Committee, GPCA
09:10-09:30
Keynote session: Sustainability at the centre of strategy – How the plastic industry is redefining itself
09:30-10:15
Plastic is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. The amount of plastic produced is expected to double by 2030, and then double again by 2050. The downside of this boom is plastic waste that ends up in the environment in huge quantities, causing environmental and economic damages. The plastic economy is also a major contributor to climate-change. However, the problem with plastic does not begin at the end of the pipe, but rather at the start. Plastic that cannot be avoided or substituted must be designed and produced more sustainably, used more sparingly, applied more purposefully, and finally be collected without exception and reused wherever possible. This will not happen on its own. It requires a common and binding global framework of action.- How can collaboration along the extended global plastic packaging production and after-use value chain, as well as with governments and NGOs, achieve systemic change to overcome stalemates in today’s plastics economy in order to move to a more circular model?
- Global plastic governance landscape, implications for the industry in the context of global commitments and identify gaps in the existing framework.
- The regional action policy scenario, opportunities and obstacles with the GCC and the evolving business models, consumption models
Moderation by:
Panellists:
Udit Arora
Head of Committees Affairs & Economic Research (A), GPCA
Harith Al-Qurtas
Chief Adviser, Ministry Industry Mineral Resources
Martyn Tickner
Chief Advisor, Circular Solutions, AEPW
Maryam Al Mansoori
General Manager, Rebound Plastics Exchange
10:15-11:00
Plastic production is growing every year. Fuelled by increasing consumer demand for packaged products, plastic plays a major role in packaging due to its durability, processibility and chemical stability. Converters and recyclers are key in all aspects of change and their involvement will drive the agenda for the next decades. Plastics converters and compounders commit to using more recycled plastics materials (rPM) in final applications, provided the quality and material availability are secured and brand owners or specifiers are willing to request more recyclates in their specifications. The containers and packaging sector, and related sectors such as food and beverage and consumer goods, face reputational and regulatory pressures to use alternative materials and recycled content at scale. This creates opportunities for companies to collaborate and find solutions with different players across the value chain.- Understanding the importance of ESG for the plastics conversion industry
- Using the plastics innovation engine to move the industry into a positive spiral of value capture, stronger economics, and better environmental outcomes.
- The four key levers that are essential to bend the plastics curve: markets for recycled (secondary) plastics, technological innovation in plastics, domestic policy measures and international co-operation, including international financing.
- How can we coordinate and drive communication of the nature of today’s situation, the vision of the Circular Plastics Economy, and share best practices and insights.
Teaser ppt and moderation by:
Panellist:
Dr. Yahya Anouti
Partner & ESG Leader, PwC Strategy& Middle East
Surendra Patawari
Founder & CEO, Gemini
11:00-11:30
Coffee break
11:30-12:15
Is there an economic incentive for product manufacturers to reduce the use of plastic in their products and how do we address this? Can we shift the responsibility of the end-of-life management of products and materials to their respective producers? EPR systems have been implemented since 1970, but a significant increase in adoption can be seen in the last decade. It is expected by 2025 that many MEA countries will begin to adopt EPR into their legislation or begin to introduce framework regulations. Through this session speakers will address:- Significance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the main goals in establishing this kind of a system
- Reviewing best-in-class EPR schemes that have been successful around the world
- How is the GCC working towards developing regulations for EPR.
Moderated by:
Panellists:
Hani Tohme
Senior Partner, Head of Sustainability MENA, Roland Berger
Antonello Ciotti
President – PETCORE Europe, Sr. Buss. Director EAMAEI – Dow P&SP recycling
Gerald Rebitzer
Director Sustainability, Amcor Flexibles
12:15-13:30
Lunch and prayers
13:30-14:00
The use of plastics has increased twentyfold in the past 50 years. The Global Recycled Plastics market is likely to growth at a substantial rate between 2023 and 2028. In 2023, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the increasing adoption of tactics by key players, the market is predicted to rise over the projected horizon. Potential suppliers of recycled plastics do not invest sufficiently in sorting and recycling capacity because the profitability of these operations is limited. Potential buyers (i.e. manufacturing firms) have limited incentives to use recycled plastics as inputs because of uncertainty about their availability and quality. The market is continuously seeking carbon neutral solution to meet the increasing stringent regulation and these outcomes could improve significantly if these issues were addressed. There is an urgency of rethinking the plastics pollution and closing loop among the plastic circularity, this has driven new trends on the plastic value chain, from the feedstock, manufacturing, application, and recycling of plastics, involving the brand owners, convertors, machineries, and plastic producers as well. Let us look at this through the lens of a brand owner and how did they rethink the way they design, use, and reuse plastics to create a circular economy for plastic?14:00-14:30
Machinery suppliers to share latest developments and cutting-edge technologies that optimise productivity, resource efficiency, lower its energy consumption, reduce costs.
Michael Ahlgrimm
Technical director, Coperion
Marouane Mansour
General Manager, Coperion Middle East Co. Ltd
14:30-15:15
There are three main routes for plastic disposal: recycling, incineration, or landfills. Achieving a circular economy will require eliminating incineration and landfill streams – the current managed plastic waste routes. Companies struggle with the value assessment of complex material/ waste streams. This session covers the differences in recycling structures globally and the different types of recycling processes. With many innovative technologies coming out the focus is now on upscaling session will also focus on:- The current state of affairs and how to mature advanced recycling technologies and setting up end-to-end partnerships.
- Underline how waste extraction is critical to meet the objective of a circular economy.
- Do we need specialised infrastructure to extract valuable components?
- Industrial segments that present challenges to recyclers: multilayer packaging/ flexible films and fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites.
Moderated by:
Panellists:
Jonny Goyal
Director, Research and Analysis, Chemical Market Analytics
Steve Mahon
CEO, Mura Technology
Ronald Richa
GM Plastic Recycling – Repeet, Veolia Middle East
Dr. Saumitra Saxena
Research Scientist, Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC), KAUST
15:15-15:20
Closing by Emcee
- 15 May 2023
Day 2: Monday
09:00-09:05
Welcome remarks by Emcee
09:05-09:10
Opening remarks
Khalid S. Al-Kuwari
CEO, Q-Chem and Vice-Chairman – Plastics Committee, GPCA
09:10-09:30
The integral part of the circular economy is re-using products and ensuring asset utilisation. Increasing environmental consciousness means more consumers are pro-actively recycling than ever before, as well as concerted efforts towards plastic-alternatives through biodegradable waste. As we move forward, it will be important to shift consumer attitudes on the perception of recycled material, as well as consumer desires for new products. Brands must reduce the price-quality ratio of manufacturing to demonstrate circular options that produce tangible advantages such as lower costs.- Understanding the macroeconomic trends including the circular plastic economy and how they’re impacting the industry.
- The impact of urbanisation, deglobalisation, and international trade flows on the plastics industry.
- How are fast-changing regulations in the GCC region impacting the future prospects of the plastics industry?
09:30-10:15
Since its inception in the 1960s, the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf has made a tremendous contribution to the regional economy through job creation, economic diversification, and by stimulating the creation of other industries and value chains. GCC national visions aim to develop local automotive industry as it’s a key driver of macroeconomic growth and technological advancement in developing and developed countries. The role of plastic in the design and manufacturing of automotive vehicles has never been more essential, with stringent regulations and changing consumer habits driving demand for more affordable, lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles. Through this session, we will look at the growing role for plastic applications in transportation and how it is also enhancing the GCC's drive towards sustainability.- Drivers that will help develop an automotive industry in the Arabian Gulf over the next decade
- In the journey to deliver Saudi Arabia’s Vision for 2030, are there an areas that need improvement or focus?
- How has inflation, rising fuel prices, focus on sustainability impacted the auto industry? Is the plastics industry equipped to assist in this transition to green mobility solutions?
- How can the export-oriented plastics industry support the development of a regional automotive industry?
Moderated by:
Panellist:
Muhamad Fadhil
SVP, Strategy and Business Development, Argus Media
Dr. Fahd Aldohish
President & CEO, SNAM Automobiles Industries Co
Dr. Raed Al Zubi
GM, Arabian Chemical Company Latex
10:15-10:45
Coffee break
10:45-11:30
According to the World Economic Forum, the engineering and construction industry is the world’s largest consumer of raw materials. As the global demand for hydrocarbon products continues its upwards march, Oil & Gas reserves in ever more demanding environments must be utilised. This places greater demands on the equipment used to explore for and produce the hydrocarbons on which modern life is based. These challenges include exposure of equipment to highly abrasive environments with highly variable temperatures, high mechanical loads, extreme weathering conditions as well as corrosive chemicals. Plastics’ versatility makes them a must-have material in building and construction. The plastic waste stream must be diverted by adopting circular models. A circular economy requires systemic innovation throughout the value chain and across important life-cycle stages of a building: (1) material and component manufacture, (2) design and planning and (3) end-of-life. Through this session let’s look at,- How modern technical plastics have a major contribution towards improving existing solutions in the oil and gas industry due to state-of-the-art materials that offer a greater range of benefits?
- Advancements in plastic piping and how irradiated plastic not only helps improve the strength of concrete but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb energy consumption.
- How are plastics supporting the impressive growth in LEED certified buildings with the GCC?
Panellist:
Abdulrahman Al-Awwad
Pipe Technology Sr. Manager, SABIC
11:30-12:15
"Polymers Park” has the potential to produce up to around 400,000 tonnes of plastics annually for uses including packaging, construction, and semi-finished products. The global polymer market is expected to grow from $439.28bn in 2021 to $616.82bn by 2028 due to its multiple applications across FMCG, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Polymers Park has been specifically designed for the global plastic and polymers industry and has evolved significantly since its launch in 2019, serving as a catalyst to propel the polymers downstream sector in the UAE. In line with the rising demand for the development of a robust national polymer sector, let’s look at the following:- How are value parks accelerating investment and innovation in the region’s plastics industry?
- Is the current collaboration with stakeholders from across the value chain, including polymer manufacturers, converters, and service providers proving to be effective or do they need to improve their value proposition?
- How can the value parks support the development of new value chains within the region?
Moderator:
Panellist:
David Lines
GM – GCC & Global Business Development Manager – Petrochemicals, Astra Polymers Compounding Co. Ltd.
Ahmed Al Zahrani
VP – Business & Services, Sadara Chemical Company
Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed Alkuwi
Plastic Park Project Manager, Madayn
12:15-12:30
Closing remarks
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun
Secretary General, GPCA
12:30
Lunch and prayers