Proposed REACH restriction dossier reflects industry’s commitment to safe use of diisocyanates
On 7 October 2016, German REACH competent authorities submitted a restriction dossier to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposing risk management measures to ensure safe handling of diisocyanates at the workplace. The dossier...
Updated “Emergency Response Guidelines for Transport of TDI & MDI”
Updated Guidelines Emergency Response for Transport of TDI & MDI The second edition of the “Emergency Response Manual for Transport of TDI and MDI” from October 2003, has been thoroughly reviewed and updated. The latest version...
Find out more on poluyrethane’s benefits for construction
Polyurethane is a key material for the construction sector. It is used in boards, foam, and sandwich panels and from the basement to the roof, enabling top thermal performance. Polyurethane not only maintains its qualities throughout a...
PU Europe appoints its new Managing Director
PU Europe announced that Arnaud Duvielguerbigny has been appointed the association's new Managing Director. Mr Duvielguerbigny will resume his position in October 2016. Arnaud is an energy engineer by education and is very familiar with the...
ISOPA shares its views on circular economy
As the European Union currently works towards improving waste management in Europe and turning our economy into a circular model, ISOPA wishes to actively contribute to the debate and share its views on how such transition could actually happen....
ISOPA facilitates information exchange on safe use of polyurethane chemicals in Cairo
On 24 May 2016, ISOPA held its “One Step Ahead” seminar in Cairo. The one day event, organised by Kristine Dewaele, ISOPA office manager, brought together around 50 participants; the whole polyurethane value chain was represented through...
ISOPA contributes to the “woman shelter” project of the Lions Club Brussels-Charlemagne
Over the Christmas period, ISOPA supported the Lions Club Brussels-Charlemagne efforts to raise funds for the "Chèvrefeuille" shelter in Brussels, where girls and women who are victims of domestic violence find accommodation and support. The...
Interview with ISOPA’s President Mike Fowles – “While challenges will continue to emerge, hard work and positive spirit can turn difficulty into opportunity”
After serving as Vice-President for two years, Mike Fowles was appointed ISOPA President last December. With 30 years of international experience at Huntsman in MDI product development, project and asset management, as well as leading the Global...
Commission to focus on life cycle and existing tools to ensure Circular Economy Package’s success
On 20 April, ISOPA’s Secretary General Jörg Palmersheim attended a roundtable on the future of the circular economy in Europe organised by the Cicero Group. A Commission official from the Directoral General for the Internal Market reiterated...
24th World Sustainable Energy Days – ISOPA was there!
Last month ISOPA attended the 24th World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria. The event attracted 700 participants from 51 countries, including the European Commission, industry, NGOs, and academics. Once more, the European Commission...
ISOPA becomes an International Non-Profit Organisation
ISOPA is pleased to announce that it has become an International Non-Profit Organisation under Belgian law (AISBL). Thanks to the new status, ISOPA is now an independent legal entity operating providing a modern and transparent corporate...
Industry and policymakers should continue to cooperate on the safety on diisocyanates
“Industry and policy maker cooperation will maintain Europe’s diisocyanates industry competitiveness,” concluded ISOPA’s Secretary General, Jörg Palmersheim at the FEICA, Deutsche Bauchemie, and IVK Diisocyanates seminar on 20 January 2016....
Together, preventing waste ending up in the oceans
The European plastics industry debates Marine Litter Solutions PolyTalk 2016: Zero Plastics to the Oceans Marine litter is an important challenge we are facing today - a very complex issue affecting the oceans, seas and rivers, harming nature in...
The Benefits and history of polyurethane flexible foam
From your car seats, to your mattress and your running shoes, polyurethane flexible foam can be found in more places than you think. Without it, it is likely your life would be much less comfortable. But how did it all start and what’s the...
ISOPA appoints new leadership team
ISOPA’s General Assembly elected the association’s new President and Vice- President. After 2 years as ISOPA’s Vice-President, Mike Fowles, from Huntsman, succeeds Frank Grunert, and will serve as the Association’s President. Mike Fowles is...
“One Step Ahead” goes to Accra: ISOPA shares best practices in Ghana
After Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates, next stop was Ghana! On 26 November, ISOPA organised its bi-annual “One Step Ahead” conference in Accra. Once more, the audience reflected the diversity of the chemical and its value chain. The 36...
Over the festive period, ISOPA supports women victims of domestic violence
This year, ISOPA tries to ensure that the holiday season is indeed the “most wonderful time of the year” for everyone! Our association is honoured and proud to have sponsored the Lions Club Brussels Charlemagne advent calendar....
3 Questions to Els Van Eetvelde, Chair of ISOPA’s One Step Ahead group: “Spreading good practices for product stewardship”
17 years ago, ISOPA created the One Step Ahead programme in order to promote the safe handling of chemicals by all members of the value chain in Africa and the Middle East. Since then, much progress has been accomplished. Much more still needs...
ISOPA shares regulatory update on Diisocyanates at the 58th annual Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando, Florida
The 58th annual Polyurethanes Technical Conference which took place in Orlando, Florida, from 5 to 7 October 2015 was an excellent opportunity for ISOPA Secretary General, Jörg Palmersheim, to share an regulatory update on Diisocyanates in the...
Industry committed to the safe use of diisocyanates
On 7 October 2015, ECHA registered the intention of the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) to propose a risk-based measure under the REACH regulation for the industrial and professional use of diisocyanates. This...
ISOPA Secretary-General attends FSK Conference
On 16-17 September, Jörg Palmersheim, ISOPA Secretary General, attended the International Polyurethane Conference 2015 in Bonn, Germany. The conference presented the current outlook of the polyurethane industry and discussed the...
ISOPA Secretary-General attends 6th PU Elastomers Trading Conference
On 16-17 September, Jörg Palmersheim, ISOPA Secretary General, attended the 6th PU Elastomers Trading Conference in Brühl, Germany. The conference, which takes place every two years, aimed at bringing together a multitude of actors across...
Covestro launch in Antwerp – ISOPA was there!
On 7 September, ISOPA Secretary General attended the launch of Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, in Antwerp. Bart de Wever, the Major of Antwerp and Mr Pieters, the Belgian Minister for the Economy joined Patrick Thomas, Covestro’s CEO...
Polyurethane industry’s contribution to sustainable development – 3 Questions to Shpresa Kotaji, Chair of the ISOPA Polyurethane Applications Cluster
Over the past 10 years, sustainable development has risen to the top of the political and regulatory agenda. Today more than ever, European policy-makers and industrial actors are working together to ensure European manufacturing remains both...
Isopa welcomes the publication of the Sixth Nordic Swan Ecolabel for construction panels
The sixth version of the Nordic Swan ecolabel for construction panels – which covers composite wood panels – has been published following a consultation phase with its stakeholders. The revised criteria will apply for 5 years, until...
ISOPA Secretary General attends EUROPUR & EURO-MOULDERS’s Technical Conference on PU foam
Today, ISOPA Secretary General Jörg Palmersheim participated in EUROPUR and EURO-MOULDERS’s Technical Conference on PU foam. The main aim of today’s session was to look at various regulatory, and health and safety issues linked to the...
ISOPA Secretary General attends EUROPUR’s General Assembly
On 9 June, ISOPA Secretary General Jörg Palmersheim attended EUROPUR’s General Assembly (GA) in Frankfurt, Germany. In the vivid discussions the GA Conference notably looked into the current state of Polyurethane flexible foam market...
Promoting the safe use of Diisocyanates and Polyols along the value chain | 3 Questions to Ronald van den Bosch, Chair of the ISOPA Product Stewardship Cluster
n today’s economy managing regulatory pressure combined with product stewardship is of key importance to ensure industrial products’ highest standard. Particularly for ISOPA, it is quintessential that those involved in producing, selling, using...
ISOPA Secretary General Jörg Palmersheim speaks at the 2nd annual PU Conference in Bologna
The 2nd annual PU conference organised by the Associazione Nazionale Poliuretano Espanso rigido was the perfect opportunity for Mr. Palmersheim to present ISOPA's mission and activities. Not only did he introduce ISOPA to all participants but...
“One Step Ahead” in Casablanca!
After Tanzania and Dubai last year, “One Step Ahead” is taking place in Casablanca, Morocco. On May 27, more than 70 participants from the entire value chain (distributors, logistics, machinery, etc…) will meet under the Moroccan sun and learn...
