Polymers for Europe Alliance Suspends Best Polymer Producers Awards Amid Unprecedented Market Turmoil

Brussels, May 04^th, 2026

The level of turmoil in the Polymer and Plastic supply chain is currently at heights seldom, if ever, experienced before. The salient issues are availability, cost and volatility.

Some participants are taking the short-term view and terminating contracts without consultation, passing on cost increases on material which was manufactured prior to the increased expense, and selling to the highest bidder regardless of outstanding commitments. Others are taking the long-term view and treating customers the same way they expect to be treated by their suppliers. These consider temporary extensions in payment terms where appropriate, and consult in depth in partnership with customers to try to avoid permanent damage to the supply chain in the knowledge that this situation, extreme as it is, is nonetheless temporary.

Under these circumstances, the Polymers for Europe Alliance after consultation with members takes the view that the instability in the current situation renders it impossible to take a balanced view of our suppliers’ performance as required under the annual Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe now underway. The situation is not stable and the pressures in the supply chain continue to fluctuate dramatically. More stability is required to assess who in the end will prove to be the most constructive partners.

The Alliance therefore declares that it is stopping the current Awards exercise and anticipates making a further statement at the time of the EuPC Annual Meeting on June 2nd.

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About Polymers for Europe Alliance

The Alliance was initiated by the European Plastics Converters association (EuPC) during its General Assembly in May 2015. It is an online, confidential information platform open to all parties who have an interest in the competitive conversion of polymers in Europe. Its objectives are to provide factual public information on the status of the polymer supply situation in Europe and to re-establish a constructive dialogue with the supply base. The initiatives of the Alliance also include the Best Polymer Producers Awards for Europe, which are now organised on an annual basis. In this Europe-wide online customers’ satisfaction survey all users of polymers in Europe can rate their best suppliers of the year.

polymercomplyeurope.eu/pce-services/polymers-europe-alliance

About European Plastics Converters (EuPC)

EuPC is the EU-level Trade Association, based in Brussels, representing European Plastics Converters. Plastics converters (sometimes called "Processors") are the heart of the plastics industry. They manufacture plastics semi-finished and finished products for an extremely wide range of industrial and consumer markets - the automotive electrical and electronic, packaging, construction and healthcare industries, to name but a few.

www.plasticsconverters.eu

Contact: Tracey Nguyen - tracey.nguyen@pceu.eu