Awards series recognizes best-practice contributions to the plastics industry

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 11, 2017 – Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the go to resource for industry data in the region, announced the winners of the 7th edition of the GPCA Plastics Excellence Awards. The awards ceremony took place on April 9, 2017, in Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the 8th GPCA PlastiCon.

Sabic in partnership with Hira Industries, KSA won in the ‘Joint Development/Improvement of a New Product or Application – Resin Producer & Plastic Converter’ category for their improved use of SABIC’s new LDPE dedicated foam grade in Aerofoam (pipe/tube insulation), while Ingenia Polymers Company, also from KSA, took home the award for ‘Innovative and New Plastic Products and Processes’ for its pastillated additive preblends for improved additivation.

Borouge, UAE was recognized for ‘Best Sustainability Initiatives in the Plastic Conversion Industry’ for its full PE laminate for 100% recyclability. In the individual awards categories, Janne Lampela from Borouge Pte. bagged the award for ‘Best Researcher in Plastics and Plastic Conversion’ for his research on RG568MO – absolute clarity, made possible by New Borstar Random Technology, with Israa Al-Rowaihi from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) winning the coveted ‘Fikra-Rising Stars of the Plastics Industry-Students Award’ for her work on production of bioplastics from CO2 using renewable energy resources (an artificial photosynthesis approach).

Commenting on the awards, Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, said: “Over the years, the GPCA Plastics Excellence Awards have been shining the spotlight on best adopters of innovation across the value chain, be it design, manufacturing processes or reducing environmental impact. I congratulate all the winners in demonstrating ingenuity in a highly complex industry. The success of our industry will be powered by the younger generation – which is why for the third consecutive year the awards featured a special student category called ‘Fikra: Rising Stars of the Plastics Industry Competition’. 

As such, innovation by newer demographics is shaping the direction of the awards series, with never–before-seen uses of plastics being identified with every passing year.”  

This year’s GPCA Plastics Excellence Awards were sponsored by SABIC, with Sami Al-Osaimi, VP, Polyethylene, SABIC, addressing the audience comprising delegates, winners and honorary guests during the awards ceremony.

The awards series received as many as 230 entries from both commercial and private sectors including organizations, students, suppliers and OEM manufacturers since inception in 2011.