"New quality productive forces" break through the boundaries of traditional productivity, with its core characteristics being green, efficient, and intelligent. They deeply integrate scientific and technological innovation, environmental protection, and efficient resource utilization, giving birth to entirely new industrial forms and business models.

From new energy vehicles, low-altitude economy, photovoltaics, green materials to intelligent manufacturing, new quality productive forces are accelerating the transformation of the modern industrial system. In this transformation, plastics and rubber have played an irreplaceable role.

CHINAPLAS 2025 kicked off grandly yesterday, drawing a record 79,894 visitors throughout the day with an electrifying atmosphere.

From environmental challenges to sustainable solutions

Driven by new quality productive forces, plastics are accelerating their transition from traditional petrochemical-based materials to recycled, bio-based, degradable, and high-performance materials, becoming an important driving force for sustainable development. At CHINAPLAS 2025, many exhibitors showcase high-quality green material solutions and their extensive applications.

Driven by the innovation of new quality productivity, the application of recycled plastics in industries such as packaging, automobiles, and electronics is becoming increasingly popular.

One of the highlights of KRAIBURG TPE (Booth: 17Q71) at the exhibition is its sustainable TPE solution. This material contains up to 48% post-consumer recycled (PCR) and 50% post-industrial recycled (PIR) components, and it has excellent encapsulation with PP. It is suitable for multi-component injection molding processes and offers a rich selection of pre-colored options, being widely used in various fields such as automotive exterior trims, headphones, and game machines.

At the same time, new quality productive forces have accelerated the development of efficient plastic recycling technologies. Among them, chemical recycling technology can decompose waste plastics into their original monomers and reuse them in the production of new plastics, achieving a closed-loop utilization of resources.

In addition, bio-based and degradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which use renewable resources such as corn and sugarcane as raw materials, can not only effectively reduce the dependence on petroleum resources but also have the property of being degradable.

For example, the UPM Formi EcoAce innovative bio-based composite material showcased by STAR-BETTER CHEM (Booth: 15K41) is made from wood fibers and renewable biopolymers derived from UPM BioVerno naphtha, and it can be widely applied in industries such as automobiles, electronics, and 3D printing. Compared with traditional petrochemical-based plastics, the carbon footprint of some products made from this material is reduced by more than 90%.

The booth of STAR-BETTER CHEM / UPM Formi EcoAce innovative bio-based composite material.

In addition, high-performance plastics, with their excellent strength, heat resistance, and lightweight characteristics, have become an important alternative to traditional metal materials. This not only improves the performance and lifespan of products but also effectively reduces carbon emissions.

High-performance plastics, such as carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, and liquid crystal polymers, have been widely used in emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, low-altitude economy, and photovoltaics.

Innovative applications of plastics in emerging industries

Market demand is the fundamental driving force behind the development of new quality productive forces, clarifying its development direction. The rapid development of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is a typical example of new quality productive forces, in which the continuous innovation of plastics has significantly improved energy efficiency and safety.

The application of innovative high-performance plastics in the field of new energy vehicles mainly focuses on three aspects: battery packs, intelligent driving, and lightweight materials. The structural components of battery packs, as the core components of the energy system of electric vehicles (EVs), their design and material selection are crucial for safety and driving range. In order to further enhance the lightweight effect, in recent years, the application of automotive plastics in the design of battery packs has been increasing.

For example, the long glass fiber-reinforced flame-retardant nylon material launched by Shanghai PRET (Booth: 17K105) is used to replace the steel in the structural components of battery packs, reducing the weight of the components by 40% and the manufacturing cost by 15%.

In terms of technology, KraussMaffei (Booth: 12J41) has successfully applied the high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) process to the manufacturing of battery casings for NEVs. Compared with traditional steel battery casings, the weight of composite battery casings using the HP-RTM process can be reduced by 60%.

Intelligent driving is becoming increasingly important in the future travel trend, and new types of plastics make the autonomous driving system more accurate and reliable. For example, the conductive grade polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) of Polyplastics (Booth: 17M65) can be used in automotive millimeter-wave radars, having the advantage of electromagnetic wave shielding. At the same time, its conductivity adds an additional effect of reducing assembly work and costs.

Polyplastics provides innovative materials to power the future of mobility.

As for the photovoltaic industry, the application of plastic materials has significantly improved the lightweight, durability, and conversion efficiency of solar panels. BASF (Booth: 17D91) combines polyurethane material frames with water-based coatings and matches them with engineering plastic corner connectors, providing a corrosion-resistant and lightweight solution for photovoltaic applications. Compared with traditional aluminum frames, this solution can reduce the weight by 30% and the carbon footprint by 85%.

Photovoltaic modules usually operate in harsh environment, and photovoltaic encapsulation films are key auxiliary materials for encapsulation, mainly used to protect the battery cells. Wanhua Chemical (Booth: 17F71) 's WANSUPER polyolefin elastomer (POE) can be applied to photovoltaic encapsulation films, with the advantages of a light transmittance of over 91% and a 20% improvement in weather fastness. It can meet the requirements of double-glass modules and reduce the encapsulation cost by 15%.

New quality productivity and smart manufacturing

As an essential part of new quality productive forces, smart manufacturing uses automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analysis technologies to significantly improve the quality and efficiency. At CHINAPLAS 2025, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the latest developments in smart manufacturing through the highlight exhibits and on-site demonstrations.

With the continuous evolution of new quality productive forces, smart manufacturing will also evolve rapidly. Whether it is automated equipment, robots, or Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing technologies, the production process of products is moving towards a more intelligent direction. New quality productive forces and smart manufacturing complement each other, with the former providing driving force, and the latter being an important way for practical implementation.

Looking to the future, with the in-depth promotion of technological innovation and industrial integration, new quality productive forces will lead the global plastics and rubber industries to develop towards a more sustainable, more efficient, and more intelligent direction. CHINAPLAS will continue to witness and participate in this transformative journey.

BASF shared its latest developments in chemical recycling with the audience.

"New quality productive forces" break through the boundaries of traditional productivity, with its core characteristics being green, efficient, and intelligent. They deeply integrate scientific and technological innovation, environmental protection, and efficient resource utilization, giving birth to entirely new industrial forms and business models.

From new energy vehicles, low-altitude economy, photovoltaics, green materials to intelligent manufacturing, new quality productive forces are accelerating the transformation of the modern industrial system. In this transformation, plastics and rubber have played an irreplaceable role.

CHINAPLAS 2025 kicked off grandly yesterday, drawing a record 79,894 visitors throughout the day with an electrifying atmosphere.

From environmental challenges to sustainable solutions

Driven by new quality productive forces, plastics are accelerating their transition from traditional petrochemical-based materials to recycled, bio-based, degradable, and high-performance materials, becoming an important driving force for sustainable development. At CHINAPLAS 2025, many exhibitors showcase high-quality green material solutions and their extensive applications.

Driven by the innovation of new quality productivity, the application of recycled plastics in industries such as packaging, automobiles, and electronics is becoming increasingly popular.

One of the highlights of KRAIBURG TPE (Booth: 17Q71) at the exhibition is its sustainable TPE solution. This material contains up to 48% post-consumer recycled (PCR) and 50% post-industrial recycled (PIR) components, and it has excellent encapsulation with PP. It is suitable for multi-component injection molding processes and offers a rich selection of pre-colored options, being widely used in various fields such as automotive exterior trims, headphones, and game machines.

At the same time, new quality productive forces have accelerated the development of efficient plastic recycling technologies. Among them, chemical recycling technology can decompose waste plastics into their original monomers and reuse them in the production of new plastics, achieving a closed-loop utilization of resources.

In addition, bio-based and degradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which use renewable resources such as corn and sugarcane as raw materials, can not only effectively reduce the dependence on petroleum resources but also have the property of being degradable.

For example, the UPM Formi EcoAce innovative bio-based composite material showcased by STAR-BETTER CHEM (Booth: 15K41) is made from wood fibers and renewable biopolymers derived from UPM BioVerno naphtha, and it can be widely applied in industries such as automobiles, electronics, and 3D printing. Compared with traditional petrochemical-based plastics, the carbon footprint of some products made from this material is reduced by more than 90%.

The booth of STAR-BETTER CHEM / UPM Formi EcoAce innovative bio-based composite material.

In addition, high-performance plastics, with their excellent strength, heat resistance, and lightweight characteristics, have become an important alternative to traditional metal materials. This not only improves the performance and lifespan of products but also effectively reduces carbon emissions.

High-performance plastics, such as carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, and liquid crystal polymers, have been widely used in emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, low-altitude economy, and photovoltaics.

Innovative applications of plastics in emerging industries

Market demand is the fundamental driving force behind the development of new quality productive forces, clarifying its development direction. The rapid development of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is a typical example of new quality productive forces, in which the continuous innovation of plastics has significantly improved energy efficiency and safety.

The application of innovative high-performance plastics in the field of new energy vehicles mainly focuses on three aspects: battery packs, intelligent driving, and lightweight materials. The structural components of battery packs, as the core components of the energy system of electric vehicles (EVs), their design and material selection are crucial for safety and driving range. In order to further enhance the lightweight effect, in recent years, the application of automotive plastics in the design of battery packs has been increasing.

For example, the long glass fiber-reinforced flame-retardant nylon material launched by Shanghai PRET (Booth: 17K105) is used to replace the steel in the structural components of battery packs, reducing the weight of the components by 40% and the manufacturing cost by 15%.

In terms of technology, KraussMaffei (Booth: 12J41) has successfully applied the high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) process to the manufacturing of battery casings for NEVs. Compared with traditional steel battery casings, the weight of composite battery casings using the HP-RTM process can be reduced by 60%.

Intelligent driving is becoming increasingly important in the future travel trend, and new types of plastics make the autonomous driving system more accurate and reliable. For example, the conductive grade polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) of Polyplastics (Booth: 17M65) can be used in automotive millimeter-wave radars, having the advantage of electromagnetic wave shielding. At the same time, its conductivity adds an additional effect of reducing assembly work and costs.

Polyplastics provides innovative materials to power the future of mobility.

As for the photovoltaic industry, the application of plastic materials has significantly improved the lightweight, durability, and conversion efficiency of solar panels. BASF (Booth: 17D91) combines polyurethane material frames with water-based coatings and matches them with engineering plastic corner connectors, providing a corrosion-resistant and lightweight solution for photovoltaic applications. Compared with traditional aluminum frames, this solution can reduce the weight by 30% and the carbon footprint by 85%.

Photovoltaic modules usually operate in harsh environment, and photovoltaic encapsulation films are key auxiliary materials for encapsulation, mainly used to protect the battery cells. Wanhua Chemical (Booth: 17F71) 's WANSUPER polyolefin elastomer (POE) can be applied to photovoltaic encapsulation films, with the advantages of a light transmittance of over 91% and a 20% improvement in weather fastness. It can meet the requirements of double-glass modules and reduce the encapsulation cost by 15%.

New quality productivity and smart manufacturing

As an essential part of new quality productive forces, smart manufacturing uses automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analysis technologies to significantly improve the quality and efficiency. At CHINAPLAS 2025, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the latest developments in smart manufacturing through the highlight exhibits and on-site demonstrations.

With the continuous evolution of new quality productive forces, smart manufacturing will also evolve rapidly. Whether it is automated equipment, robots, or Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing technologies, the production process of products is moving towards a more intelligent direction. New quality productive forces and smart manufacturing complement each other, with the former providing driving force, and the latter being an important way for practical implementation.

Looking to the future, with the in-depth promotion of technological innovation and industrial integration, new quality productive forces will lead the global plastics and rubber industries to develop towards a more sustainable, more efficient, and more intelligent direction. CHINAPLAS will continue to witness and participate in this transformative journey.

BASF shared its latest developments in chemical recycling with the audience.