GPCA PlastiCon focuses on the core technical and commercial aspects of the plastics value chain. The 11th edition will showcase latest trends and innovations shaping the industry, in addition to the regulations that promote a circular economy.

The conference will bring various stakeholder groups from the plastics industry which will include regulators, converters, brand owners, academia, waste management companies , start-ups, think-tanks and NGOs to work towards a shared vision of circular economy that will reap greater benefits for the industry and environment in the future.

Wednesday 18 March 2020 | Day 1

08.00 – 09:00

Registration and welcome coffee

Sponsored by:
Borouge

09:00 – 09:10

Curtain raiser video and opening by MC

Sponsored by:
SABIC

09:10 – 09:20

Opening remarks

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun

Secretary General, GPCA

09:20 – 09:40

Keynote address: Transforming the plastics downstream industry through digitalization

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Eng. Abdallah AlObeikan

CEO, Obeikan Investment Group

09:40 – 09:55

Panel discussion and Q&A

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Ahmed Omar Abdulla

CEO, Borouge and Chairman, Plastics Committee, GPCA

09:55 – 10:45

Showcasing the evolving reforms in the regional plastics industry

Conference session

Presented by:
null
David Lines

GM GCC and Global Business Development Manager Petrochemicals, Astra Polymers

10:45 – 11:20

Networking break

Sponsored by:
schem

Session 1: Recycling and the future of plastics

11:20 – 11:40

Capturing value from waste

  • Addressing the challenges with waste flows and potential for material recovery
  • Outlining the various technologies to identify viable recycling methods
  • Case study on a successful project in GCC

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Ronald Richa
Industrial Business Development Director, Veolia

11:40 – 12:00

Best in class methods to improve waste collection and source segregation

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Jules El Adem
Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Suez Middle East Recycling LLC

12:00 – 12:20

Unlocking non-conventional applications of plastics waste

  • Using plastic waste as feedstock for alternate use
  • Identifying new avenues and markets for productive use of plastics waste

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Marc Froese
Chief Operating Officer, Biofabrik Group

12:20 – 12:40

Panel discussion and Q&A

Panel

12:40 – 14:00

Networking lunch and prayer

Social networking

Sponsored by:
saudi-polymers

Session 2: Innovations in the plastic industry

14:00 – 14:45

Masterclass 1: Design for Recycling

Moving beyond waste and adopting a circular model is a key challenge for both companies and regulators involved. A strategy needs to be put in place to address the issue of waste collection. Investment in R&D to enhance packaging design is key. Value chain partners such as brand owners, designers, and producers will share existing examples to demonstrate high performance of recycled material and  end-of-life recyclability.

 

Moderated by: Carlo Stella, Principal, Arthur D. Little

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Ed Roberts
Regional Sustainability Director EMEA, Sealed Air
null
Khalil Fadda
GM – Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Central Asia, Ampacet Corporation
null
Emma Barber
MD, DGrade
null
Mauricio Dias Amador
Head – Commercial, Precision Plastic Products Co. LLC

14:45 – 15:30

Masterclass 2: Chemical recycling: Packaging waste into pure virgin-quality recycled material

  • Novel technologies involved in chemical recycling globally
  • Evaluating new opportunities for integrating chemically recycled plastic material into end products
  • Opening new markets for recovered material

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Dr. Norbert Niessner
Director Global R&D, INEOS Styrolution
null
Dr. Udo Huenger
VP Middle East, BASF

15:30 – 15:50

Networking break

Conference session

Sponsored by:
schem

Session 3: Opportunities and challenges for producers in the GCC

15:50 – 16:35

Masterclass 3: The impact of new olefins and polymer capacities in the Middle East

  • US ethane-based cracker investments
  • China’s refinery-based cracker and PDH projects
  • Competitiveness of China’s new coal, methanol, ethane, LPG and naphtha-based crackers
  • Positioning of Middle Eastern producers

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Sarah Rae
VP Olefins and Derivatives, Argus Media
null
Henry F. Roth
CEO, Rakha Al-Khaleej International FZCO

16:35 – 16:40

Closing of the conference day 1

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Muayad Al-Faresi
Global Business Director – PET, EQUATE

19:00 – 21:00

Gala dinner

Social networking

Sponsored by:
SABIC

Thursday 19 March 2020 | Day 2

08:00 – 09:00

Registration and welcome coffee

Sponsored by:
Borouge

09:00 – 09:05

Recap of day 1

Sponsored by:
SABIC

09:05 – 09:25

Keynote 1: Adding value to businesses: Role of the national programme in supporting SMEs in UAE

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Adeeb Al Afeefi
Director, The National Program for Small and Medium Enterprises and Projects, Ministry of Economy, UAE

09:25 – 09:45

Keynote 2: A new dawn for waste management in KSA

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Jeroen Vincent
CEO, Saudi Investment Recycling Company

09:45 – 10:05

Panel discussion and Q&A

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Waleed Ahmad Al-Shalfan
GM, Technology Petrochemicals SBU, SABIC

Session 4: Regional regulatory updates

10:05 – 10:45

New and upcoming regulatory changes impacting the regional plastic industry

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Venkata Pisipaty
Head of KIZAD Polymers Park, KIZAD

10:45 – 11:05

Networking break

Sponsored by:
schem

11:05 – 11:45

Rethinking the future of plastics packaging – Moving towards a circular economy approach

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Omar Bennis

Director of Public Affairs and Communications, The Coca-Cola Company Middle East

null
Sivakumar Shanmugavel

Regional Safety Security Health Environment Manager, Nestle Middle East and North Africa

null
Priya Sarma

Senior Sustainability Manager MENA, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey, Unilever

null
Bharath Yalla

MD, Reifenhauser MEA (FZC)

Session 5: Creating value through circular economy

11:45 – 12:05

Driving value for the GCC plastics downstream industry

  • Establishing value parks for easy access to raw materials and export opportunities
  • Building an ecosystem that enables collaborate-to-innovate

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Venkata Pisipaty
Head of KIZAD Polymers Park, KIZAD

12:05 – 12:25

Adhesives and coatings as enablers of circular economy in packaging and consumer goods

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Sunil Kumar
Business Director of Packaging Division (Adhesive Technologies) – India, Middle East and Africa, Henkel Adhesives Technologies

12:25 – 12:45

Unlocking polystyrene’s unique potential for full circularity

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Chrissi Schönfelder
GM Advocacy and Communications, Styrenics Circular Solutions

12:45 – 13:05

Panel discussion and Q&A

Panel

13:05 – 13:15

Closing remarks

Conference session

Presented by:
https://gpcaplastics.com
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun
Secretary General, GPCA

13:15 – 14:15

Networking lunch and prayer

Social networking

Sponsored by:
SABIC
18 March 2020

Wednesday 18 March 2020 | Day 1

08.00 – 09:00

Registration and welcome coffee

Sponsored by:
Borouge

09:00 – 09:10

Curtain raiser video and opening by MC

Sponsored by:
SABIC

09:10 – 09:20

Opening remarks

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun

Secretary General, GPCA

09:20 – 09:40

Keynote address: Transforming the plastics downstream industry through digitalization

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Eng. Abdallah AlObeikan

CEO, Obeikan Investment Group

09:40 – 09:55

Panel discussion and Q&A

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Ahmed Omar Abdulla

CEO, Borouge and Chairman, Plastics Committee, GPCA

09:55 – 10:45

Showcasing the evolving reforms in the regional plastics industry

Conference session

Presented by:
null
David Lines

GM GCC and Global Business Development Manager Petrochemicals, Astra Polymers

10:45 – 11:20

Networking break

Sponsored by:
schem

Session 1: Recycling and the future of plastics

11:20 – 11:40

Capturing value from waste

  • Addressing the challenges with waste flows and potential for material recovery
  • Outlining the various technologies to identify viable recycling methods
  • Case study on a successful project in GCC

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Ronald Richa
Industrial Business Development Director, Veolia

11:40 – 12:00

Best in class methods to improve waste collection and source segregation

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Jules El Adem
Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Suez Middle East Recycling LLC

12:00 – 12:20

Unlocking non-conventional applications of plastics waste

  • Using plastic waste as feedstock for alternate use
  • Identifying new avenues and markets for productive use of plastics waste

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Marc Froese
Chief Operating Officer, Biofabrik Group

12:20 – 12:40

Panel discussion and Q&A

Panel

12:40 – 14:00

Networking lunch and prayer

Social networking

Sponsored by:
saudi-polymers

Session 2: Innovations in the plastic industry

14:00 – 14:45

Masterclass 1: Design for Recycling

Moving beyond waste and adopting a circular model is a key challenge for both companies and regulators involved. A strategy needs to be put in place to address the issue of waste collection. Investment in R&D to enhance packaging design is key. Value chain partners such as brand owners, designers, and producers will share existing examples to demonstrate high performance of recycled material and  end-of-life recyclability.

 

Moderated by: Carlo Stella, Principal, Arthur D. Little

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Ed Roberts
Regional Sustainability Director EMEA, Sealed Air
null
Khalil Fadda
GM – Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Central Asia, Ampacet Corporation
null
Emma Barber
MD, DGrade
null
Mauricio Dias Amador
Head – Commercial, Precision Plastic Products Co. LLC

14:45 – 15:30

Masterclass 2: Chemical recycling: Packaging waste into pure virgin-quality recycled material

  • Novel technologies involved in chemical recycling globally
  • Evaluating new opportunities for integrating chemically recycled plastic material into end products
  • Opening new markets for recovered material

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Dr. Norbert Niessner
Director Global R&D, INEOS Styrolution
null
Dr. Udo Huenger
VP Middle East, BASF

15:30 – 15:50

Networking break

Conference session

Sponsored by:
schem

Session 3: Opportunities and challenges for producers in the GCC

15:50 – 16:35

Masterclass 3: The impact of new olefins and polymer capacities in the Middle East

  • US ethane-based cracker investments
  • China’s refinery-based cracker and PDH projects
  • Competitiveness of China’s new coal, methanol, ethane, LPG and naphtha-based crackers
  • Positioning of Middle Eastern producers

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Sarah Rae
VP Olefins and Derivatives, Argus Media
null
Henry F. Roth
CEO, Rakha Al-Khaleej International FZCO

16:35 – 16:40

Closing of the conference day 1

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Muayad Al-Faresi
Global Business Director – PET, EQUATE

19:00 – 21:00

Gala dinner

Social networking

Sponsored by:
SABIC
19 March 2020

Thursday 19 March 2020 | Day 2

08:00 – 09:00

Registration and welcome coffee

Sponsored by:
Borouge

09:00 – 09:05

Recap of day 1

Sponsored by:
SABIC

09:05 – 09:25

Keynote 1: Adding value to businesses: Role of the national programme in supporting SMEs in UAE

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Adeeb Al Afeefi
Director, The National Program for Small and Medium Enterprises and Projects, Ministry of Economy, UAE

09:25 – 09:45

Keynote 2: A new dawn for waste management in KSA

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Jeroen Vincent
CEO, Saudi Investment Recycling Company

09:45 – 10:05

Panel discussion and Q&A

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Dr. Waleed Ahmad Al-Shalfan
GM, Technology Petrochemicals SBU, SABIC

Session 4: Regional regulatory updates

10:05 – 10:45

New and upcoming regulatory changes impacting the regional plastic industry

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Venkata Pisipaty
Head of KIZAD Polymers Park, KIZAD

10:45 – 11:05

Networking break

Sponsored by:
schem

11:05 – 11:45

Rethinking the future of plastics packaging – Moving towards a circular economy approach

Conference session

Panelists:
null
Omar Bennis

Director of Public Affairs and Communications, The Coca-Cola Company Middle East

null
Sivakumar Shanmugavel

Regional Safety Security Health Environment Manager, Nestle Middle East and North Africa

null
Priya Sarma

Senior Sustainability Manager MENA, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey, Unilever

null
Bharath Yalla

MD, Reifenhauser MEA (FZC)

Session 5: Creating value through circular economy

11:45 – 12:05

Driving value for the GCC plastics downstream industry

  • Establishing value parks for easy access to raw materials and export opportunities
  • Building an ecosystem that enables collaborate-to-innovate

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Venkata Pisipaty
Head of KIZAD Polymers Park, KIZAD

12:05 – 12:25

Adhesives and coatings as enablers of circular economy in packaging and consumer goods

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Sunil Kumar
Business Director of Packaging Division (Adhesive Technologies) – India, Middle East and Africa, Henkel Adhesives Technologies

12:25 – 12:45

Unlocking polystyrene’s unique potential for full circularity

Conference session

Presented by:
null
Chrissi Schönfelder
GM Advocacy and Communications, Styrenics Circular Solutions

12:45 – 13:05

Panel discussion and Q&A

Panel

13:05 – 13:15

Closing remarks

Conference session

Presented by:
https://gpcaplastics.com
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun
Secretary General, GPCA

13:15 – 14:15

Networking lunch and prayer

Social networking

Sponsored by:
SABIC