At the "PVC 2017" (www.pvc2017.org) triennial conference in Brighton / UK at the end of April, European Plasticisers (Brussels / Belgium; www.europeanplasticisers.eu) was unveiled as the new name of the trade organisation that represents companies producing around 80% of the plasticisers manufactured in Europe. It was formerly named the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI).

At the conference, the organisation presented the regulatory challenges faced by the plasticisers industry in Europe and illustrated examples of how creative communications enable audiences to understand scientific data. Jean-Luc Wietor, European Plasticisers’ general manager, gave a presentation and explained how the organisation is committed to the sustainable use of plasticisers through its participation in VinylPlus (www.vinylplus.eu), the sustainability programme of the vinyl value chain in Europe. In addition to ongoing exchange with regulators in Brussels, European Plasticisers keeps strong ties with leading brand-holders as well as US and Asian associations. The member companies are BASF, Deza, Evonik Performance Materials, ExxonMobil, Grupa Azoty, Lanxess, Perstorp and Proviron.