Brazil a leader in global converted plastics trends
Innovation, design, and sustainability are the
keystones.
THE World Plastic Connection Summit held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 21-24 August was without a doubt a truly international event, presenting the Brazilian converted plastic industry to the world – and SA Polymer Technology’s editor, Tessa O’Hara, was there.
This third edition of the event, organised by Think Plastic Brazil (www.thinkplasticbrazil.com), was held in a hybrid format (in person and online), with simultaneous broadcasting in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. In 2022, the event brought together more than 300 people in person, with lectures broadcast online to 67 countries with over 14 000 hits worldwide. Figures for this year’s event will no doubt pass 2022 but have yet to be finalised.
SA Polymer Technology was one of the four international publications invited to report on the event, which aims to set the Brazilian plastics industry as a global trendsetter
“Innovation, design, and sustainability are the keystones of the Brazilian plastics industry,” said Carlos Moreira, strategy and project planning manager for Think Plastic Brazil.
“The event has become an international benchmark for the converted plastics industry, bringing together the world’s leading researchers in the sector in Brazil. The seminar was a time for renewing knowledge, as well as a unique opportunity to form relationships between the main entrepreneurs, buyers, and researchers in the sector,” he added.
Think Plastic Brazil aspires to take Brazil’s vibrant colours, its inventive spirit, and its radiance to global audiences. Its vision entails elevating the Brazilian plastic industry to attain international recognition, and Moreira strategically used the World Plastic Connection Summit as a platform to transcend geographical boundaries.
In Brazil, there are more than 12 500 enterprises operating within the plastic industry, encompassing resin producers, extruders, converters, and recyclers. This sector is the third most significant source of employment in the Sao Paulo state.
Giving an opening address, the spokesperson from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was particularly eager to emphasize that the ministry perceives the plastic industry as having multifaceted significance. Beyond its role in job creation and economic stimulation, it also serves as a testament to Brazil’s commitment to sustainability and the circular economy on a global scale.
Think Plastic Brazil was created in December 2003, when the Brazilian integrated plastics chain was selected as one of the 10 largest in the world, recognized for its technology, as well as the capacity of its human resources. The project is conducted in collaboration with ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and under the coordination of the Brazilian Plastics Institute (INP), to promote the export of converted plastic products.
ApexBrasil works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve its goals, ApexBrasil carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad.
Renowned international names present
The international hybrid seminar featured renowned international names such as Egyptian designer Karim Rashid, Brazilian creator Jum Nakao, Finnish trend specialist Susanna Björklund, Dr Sascha Peters, the German specialist in the development of new materials, and Brazilian researcher Giácomo Parolin.
The seminar’s schedule included panel discussion on corporate leadership and design, in addition to the launch of the International colour trends guide, Color Trend 2024, and the international Yearbook 2023, with data from the international industry and information from member companies of the programme.
The third edition of the yearbook in three languages (Portuguese, English, and Spanish) highlights the 190 Brazilian member companies of Think Plastic Brazil, in addition to presenting international sectoral information for 2023. The International Yearbook will be available online.
- The World Plastic Connection Summit 2023 was sponsored by Valgroup, Braskem, Colorfix and Engeflex (masterbatch specialists), and the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
