Klagenfurt, Austria – 15 May 2025 | Under the domed halls of Kärntner Messen, a new voice entered Europe’s circular plastics dialogue — not with new material innovations, but with a call to expand the very fabric of industrial leadership. As over 1,800 visitors from nine countries gathered for the first-ever CIRPLEX – Circular Plastics Experience Summit, EUMEPS seized the opportunity to launch a landmark initiative: Women of EUMEPS.
At its heart, this campaign is about recognition, visibility, and long-term competitiveness. It acknowledges the structural barriers that still limit female representation in technical and industrial sectors — and takes the first concrete step in addressing them within the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) value chain.
A Strategic Response to Structural Gaps
The launch event was opened by Jürgen Lang, Director General of EUMEPS, who laid out the initiative’s rationale in clear terms:
“This is not about promoting one group over another. It’s about recognising that diverse teams perform better. To paint a masterpiece, all colours are needed.”
With labour shortages affecting construction, manufacturing, and recycling sectors across Europe, the campaign’s timing is no coincidence. Jürgan Lang warned of a growing disconnect between talent supply and industry needs:
“Unless we create conditions that attract and retain talented women, we will continue to lose them to other sectors — particularly the public sector, which often offers more family-friendly policies. We cannot afford this brain drain anymore.”
The message was particularly resonant in a forum like CIRPLEX, where forward-thinking industrial solutions were the norm — but where gender balance remains the exception.
Policy, Industry and the Human Factor: A Dialogue Among Leaders
Following Lang’s introduction, Ingrid Morin, Communications Manager at EUMEPS, opened the panel discussion by reaffirming the dual nature of the campaign:
“It’s about bringing visibility to the women shaping the EPS industry today — in policy, production, sustainability, and research. But it’s also about creating space for the next generation to see themselves here.”
On stage with her were two figures well-positioned to speak to both policy and practice:
- Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk, President of EUMEPS and Vice President BU Insulation Materials at Synthos
- Verena Reichenecker, CEO of Storopack
Agata Gładysz-Stańczyk articulated the challenge with precision:
“If we want to attract the young generation of women into the industry, we need to show them what women in this industry are already achieving. The campaign is about creating visibility — sharing faces, stories and experiences to encourage and engage new generations. If we don’t share them, they will not be aware of what they might achieve.”
She continued:
“We must also show them that we are ambitious. We have passion. We have competencies. Those are not contradictions — they go together.”
As the discussion progressed, Verena Reichenecker turned to the question of cultural change within companies:
“We’ve long said, ‘We hire the best person for the job.’ But unless you actively monitor whether that principle is truly embedded in the company’s culture, you won’t see real change.”
She added:
“Competence and professionalism are gender-free. So don’t let others look at your values through the gender perspective — and don’t let yourself do it either. Simply enjoy what you do. Do it with passion. Do it with discipline.”
A Strong Reception Across the Sector
The initiative was met with visible enthusiasm. Attendees from across the EU plastics value chain welcomed the timing and ambition of Women of EUMEPS.
“It was well organised and well supported,” said Nicki Hunt-Davison of the British Plastics Federation. “I travelled from the UK to support this initiative and was pleased to see so much engagement from other industry women. I hope this encourages more from future generations to become involved.”
Angela Fredericks, also of BPF, emphasised the value of the discussions:
“The panel was thought-provoking and the networking opportunities were excellent. The exhibition overall encouraged meaningful collaboration — across the UK and Europe — on driving sustainable change.”
Celine Fleschurz, representing HIRSCH, captured the emotional resonance:
“The openness and spirit of this format created a real sense of togetherness — an enrichment that I hope has only just begun at CIRPLEX.”
And for newly appointed EUMEPS Technical Affairs Manager Emanuela Gallo, the personal and professional converged:
“Events like these show that change happens when diverse voices come together with purpose and passion. I’m proud to be part of a network that values multi-dimensional talent and cross-border collaboration.”
Anchored in a Broader Transition
While Women of EUMEPS brought social transformation to the fore, the broader CIRPLEX programme reflected the sector’s commitment to environmental and economic sustainability. Highlights included:
- Over 30 expert presentations from organisations including Virginia Janssens from Plastics Europe
- Live Experience Tours of key regional companies
- A B2B matchmaking session powered by Cradle-ALP
- And a pre-event networking evening at Lake Wörthersee, where EUMEPS joined industry leaders in setting the tone for collaboration and innovation
The summit confirmed what many in Brussels already recognise: the future of industrial competitiveness in Europe will depend not only on clean technologies — but also on inclusive leadership, skills retention, and visibility for all contributors to the green transition.
Next Steps: A Campaign with Momentum
EUMEPS will continue the Women of EUMEPS initiative throughout 2025, with a dedicated campaign site, testimonials from across the value chain, and targeted outreach to EU policymakers, academia, and civil society. The objective is not representation for representation’s sake — but to unlock the full potential of a sector undergoing structural transformation.
As one final question closed the panel — “What’s the one change we need to see in our industry to make gender balance a reality?” — the answer was clear and unanimous: intentionality.
The tools are there. The awareness is growing. What remains is implementation.
“Sustainability is not a trend,” said Markus Kraft (HIRSCH), reflecting on the week. “It’s a necessity. And that includes how we build and lead our organisations.”
