K2025: onward thrust; sustainability a focus
The triennially-organised mega plastics show K2025, to be held from 8-15 October this year in Düsseldorf, Germany, has not lost its momentum as organiser Messe Düsseldorf/ said in a press preview recently, despite the uncertainty of global economic situations arising from trade tariffs and geopolitical events.
Speaking at the press event held in June, where around 80 journalists from 32 countries were joined by 15 exhibitor companies, Petra Cullmann, Executive Director of Messe Düsseldorf, said K2025 has been fully booked since May 2024. “The 18 halls, spanning over 177,000 sq m of space, will feature more than 3,200 exhibitors from 64 countries,” she said, adding that K2025 is like a “lighthouse that gives orientation to the industry”
Cullmann also said the upturn in book ings contrasted to that of K2022, held against the back of countries coming out of the Covid pandemic, with travel restrictions still in place. Thus, K2022 featured 3,020 exhibitors from 59 countries and visitors from 167 countries.
While European and US exhibitors take up a sizeable space at the show, this year, the Asian region will make an “impressive” presence at K, with companies from China, India and Taiwan to take centre stage, and around 50 exhibitors from Southeast Asia. Malaysia is the most strongly represented country from Southeast Asia with 15 exhibitors, followed by Thailand and Singapore with 11 exhibitors each.
Other highlights at K2025 will be a forum to be presented by machinery and equipment manufacturers’ association VDMA. The focus will be on green: saving resources and reducing the carbon footprint through circularity; smart: digitalisation, automation and AI as well as on human resources.
Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director VDMA, one of the sponsoring associations of K, stressed: “VDMA and its members will zero in on the motto of K2025 'The Power of Plastics!' with absolute conviction.” Companies participating in the outdoor forum include Arburg, Coperion, Erema, Lindner Recycling, Vecoplan, Wittmann Battenfeld and VDMA itself.
Plus a networking event speci f ical ly designed for women will debut at K2025 . The organiser says “successful” women in the international plastics sector will take part in a panel discussion on their careers and exper iences and will be availabl e for questions from the audience. The aim is to promote exchange with one another, strengthen professional networks and enhance the visibility of female leaders in the sector.
Other highlights include the Start-up Zone, which debuted at the last edition of K; Rubberstreet, which as its name suggests will showcase rubber products/services; and a project by the German plastics industry headed by PlasticsEurope Deutschland and Messe Düsseldorf. Themed “Plastics Shape the Future”, it will feature discussions on innovative technologies and materials, keynotes, a political panel, Career Day and Start-up Pitch.
Staying sustainable with reusable cups
With sustainability at the top of the agenda, the exhibition centre will walk the talk with reusable cups at all its restaurants and bars throughout K2025, made from Austrian polyolefins supplier Borealis’s modified PP for foam, which is produced using chemically recycled feedstock based on Austrian firm OMV’s ReOil technology.
This also marks the first time the venue will use a reusable cup system. The cups will be cleaned and used over the eight -day event, said the organiser, adding that this initiative represents a significant step towards reducing single-use packaging at global exhibitions, aligning with the objectives of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
To support reuse, Messe Düsseldorf will install special collection containers.
Besides, Borealis, the collaboration is supported by other partners : machinery maker Arburg and Bockatech with its EcoCore foaming technology, used for the cups, which reduces plastic
use by up to 50%, doubles the thermal insulation, cuts manufacturing time and provides 5x the strength while ensuring recyclability.
Meanwhile, MCC Global IML will produce the in-mould labels and packaging processor Miko Pac will produce the cups.
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