The programme will be structured around four axes: circular economy, recycling, advanced materials and digitalisation. The space will be completed with a display of products made from sustainable plastic and a networking area designed to promote exchange among professionals.
The Rethinking Plastic congress area seeks to give visibility to good practices and real cases featuring companies using plastic industry solutions in different sectors. These experiences will show the impact of innovation on circularity, efficiency and the development of new compounds. Among them is Equiplast’s Best In Class recognition, which will distinguish an exemplary circular economy initiative.
Sustainability and the circular economy will open the programme on June 2, with a first day dedicated to progress towards more efficient and responsible production models. The Strategic Plan for the Plastics Sector will be presented, along with initiatives linked to the reuse of packaging, waste recovery and industrial symbiosis. An update of the regulatory framework will also be offered, with special attention to the management of microplastics and the new regulations on pellets, a key element of the international OCS (Operation Clean Sweep) programme, aimed at preventing their loss and reducing their environmental impact.
Recycling technologies and new materials
The second day will focus on innovations applied to recovery processes, from new mechanical and chemical recycling solutions to technologies designed to improve the separation and treatment of materials in various industrial sectors. The programme will include a review of the different types of recycling, specific cases in packaging and the automotive sector, as well as technologies aimed at treating complex waste, such as multilayer materials, to generate higher‑value compounds. The day will be completed with a global overview of the current state of recycling technologies and a monographic session on industrial scrap.
The third day will be dedicated to the role of advanced plastic materials and their ability to transform processes and applications in multiple areas. The programme will address trends in new materials, the development of biopolyurethanes aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings, compostable solutions for agricultural use, and examples of applications in healthcare environments. Resource valorisation initiatives will also be presented, and a round table will be held focusing on the strategic impact of innovative materials across the value chain. The day will conclude with a session dedicated to biopolymers and biodegradability, followed by the Equiplast Awards, recognising companies, professionals and entities for their outstanding contribution to the sector.
Digitalisation to gain competitiveness
The last day of the congress will be dedicated to digital transformation as a lever for competitiveness, with content focused on process automation, robotisation, industrial traceability, the digital product passport and the integration of 4.0 technologies in the plastics value chain. The conference will also address digital solutions to improve energy efficiency and will offer an update on the state of digitalisation in the sector.
Exhibition and networking
The Rethinking Plastic space will also include an exhibition featuring around thirty products for everyday or industrial use made from sustainable plastic, designed to showcase the variety of uses of a material with multiple life cycles. Within this framework, Equiplast will present the Rethinking Plastic Awards, which will recognise the most innovative and sustainable products exhibited in this showroom in the categories of packaging, automotive and mobility, consumer products and textiles, and construction and furniture.
For its part, the networking area will facilitate the exchange of ideas, the creation of synergies and the promotion of new projects among companies, technology centres and entities in the sector.
Equiplast will bring together more than 400 exhibitors from 16 countries, 12% more than in the previous edition, consolidating its position as the benchmark event for the plastics industry in the Iberian market and one of the leading events in southern Europe. It will feature a wide business offering covering extrusion and processing machinery, automation, raw materials, additives, moulds and dies, recycling and environmental solutions, as well as software, semi‑finished products and specialist services.
The show will once again be held alongside Expoquimia, the meeting point for the chemical and process industries, with the expectation of jointly exceeding 800 exhibitors and attracting around 21,000 professionals. Both industries work together to develop more sustainable materials and processes, promote the circular economy and add value across multiple sectors.
