K 2025 is set to commence in October

K 2025, taking place in Dusseldorf from 8 to 15 October 2025, is set to become the main stage for the international plastics and rubber sector. The motto of K 2025 — The Power of Plastics! Green - Smart - Responsible — reflects the industry’s beliefs, goals, contribution to innovation and progress, and commitment to producing and processing plastic and plastic goods sustainably.

K 2022 was attended by 3,020 exhibitors from 59 countries and visitors from 167 countries. In 2025, exhibitors from Europe and Asia will be strongly represented, particularly from Germany, Italy, Turkey, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, China, India, Taiwan, in addition to the United States.

The guiding topics of the trade show include shaping the circular economy, embracing digitalisation, and caring for people. The trade show will emphasise the industry's growing focus on a sustainable circular economy that encourages reuse, recycling, and the reduction of plastic waste.

Furthermore, the focus will be on plastics and rubber industry players who understand the transformative power of digitalisation to improve efficiency and drive innovation. The show will emphasise that the sector understands its duty for environmental conservation, with emphasis on the proper use of resources.

The show will feature the Special Show: Plastics shape the Future, a project by the German plastics industry headed by PlasticsEurope Deutschland and Messe Dusseldorf, and the Power of Plastics forum, which will demonstrate the relevance of technology for implementing circularity in the plastic industry.

In addition, Rubberstreet 2025 will serve as the showcase for the innovative power of the sector. The Start-up Zone will provide a platform for newcomers who are specifically dedicated to the development of innovative products and solutions in the fields of plastics and rubber.

At the Science Campus, universities, colleges and institutes will present their latest plastics research findings. At the Young Talents Lounge, plastics training will be accessible virtually and in-person, and first-hand student experiences will be shared with the trade fair audience.

Lastly, Women in Plastics, a networking event designed for women, will debut at K 2025. Successful women in the international plastics sector will report in a panel discussion on their careers and experiences, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment. The aim is to promote exchange, strengthen professional networks and improve the visibility of women leaders in the sector.

In addition, throughout K 2025, all restaurants and bars in Messe Dusseldorf will use reusable cups made of Borealis modified polypropylene for foam, made using chemically recycled feedstock based on the ReOil technology by Osterreichische Mineralolverwaltung Aktiengesellschaft (OMV). The venue is implementing a thorough reusable cup system for the first time to reduce waste from single-use cups.

K 2025 will not only relate to plastics and rubber product manufacturers but also to industrial end-users. This includes experts from the fields of packaging, automotive, electrical engineering, electronics, communications, construction, medical device technology, aviation and aerospace.