Plastics Europe, the association of European plastics manufacturers, has announced that Benny Mermans has been appointed president.

According to the announcement, the appointment is effective immediately. Mermans is vice president of sustainability at Chevron Phillips Chemical and, in addition to various activities in several industry associations, is currently chairman of the World Plastics Council (WPC). Mermans brings extensive corporate experience to the role. His career includes positions at Exxon Chemical Company and Imperial Chemical Industries. Over the past 35 years, the chemical engineer has held various positions at Chevron Phillips Chemical. As the new President of Plastics Europe he succeeds Marco ten Bruggencate, President of Dow's Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure business for the EMEAI region, . In his new role, Mermans intends to continue driving forward the ambitious sustainability agenda of Plastics Europe and its members in line with the European Union's Clean Industrial Deal. He highlighted the central role played by his predecessor in supporting the industry's transition to net-zero CO2 emissions and a more circular economy. During his tenure, ten Bruggencate led the development and launch of ‘The Plastics Transition.’ This is Plastics Europe's roadmap to make 65 per cent of plastics in Europe recyclable and climate neutral by 2050. With this initiative, the industry has come together for the first time in a joint strategy to reshape the European plastics system.

Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, thanked ten Bruggencate for his leadership and commitment to the industry. She expressed confidence that Mermans will continue the work of his predecessor with a focus on implementing Plastics Europe's transition roadmap. She said: ‘This roadmap is much more than just a report; it is a milestone for Plastics Europe members and a roadmap for a competitive and sustainable plastics ecosystem in Europe. It guides, incentivises and accelerates industry action and provides a factual basis for dialogue along the value chain and for policy-making.’ Mermans had demonstrated his commitment and dedication to the success of Plastics Europe over the past five years as Vice President, and Janssens was looking forward to working with him.

Sources:

• Press release Plastics Europe (26.6.2025)
• Photo: © Plastics Europe