International Plastics News for Asia

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is raising concerns because of its social and economic impact. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says that Russia's invasion has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, while throwing the strong global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic into doubt. The OECD further estimates a setback in global economic growth due to this conflict and high inflation rate. The war is pushing oil, petrochemical and metal prices which could affect a wide range of industries, including plastics production. In this issue, we look at how leading companies in the plastics industry are responding to the situation and their efforts in assisting those affected by the war.

Today's packaging industry is very dynamic and the need for more efficient production systems continues to grow. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), being one of the popular materials for packaging, has many advantages and these are highlighted by Husky Injection Molding Systems in its webinar that focused on the leading trends in PET production. 

The medical sector will continue to benefit from the innovations in the area of extrusion. Where flexibility is demanded, the extrusion system featured in this issue can produce TPE medical catheter and is also capable of turning out filament made of PLA biopolymer – which can very well meet the stringent requirements for medical products.