K 2025: Key Takeaways for the Plastics and Rubber Industry

By Dom Rawlins, Market Manager – Elastomers & Thermoplastics, RBH Group

K 2025 once again reinforced why it remains the world’s leading event for the plastics and rubber industries. Bringing together suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors from across the globe, this year’s exhibition offered valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping the next decade of materials innovation.

Supply Chain Relationships Are Becoming More Strategic

Across the halls at K 2025, one clear trend emerged: supply relationships are becoming increasingly strategic. In an environment defined by regulatory change, regionalisation, and sustainability pressures, both principals and customers are prioritising reliability and technical collaboration over short-term cost advantages.

Europe’s chemical manufacturing sector continues to face headwinds, with rising energy and labour costs placing pressure on local producers. At the same time, improvements in quality and cost-effectiveness from Asian raw material suppliers are reshaping the competitive landscape, particularly in more commodity-driven materials.

To remain competitive, local stockholding and responsive technical support will be essential as the focus shifts towards next-generation, high-performance materials. For distributors such as RBH, this reinforces the importance of acting as a trusted, technically focused partner capable of bridging commercial, logistical, and regulatory challenges across regions. With our expanding European presence and strengthened operations through RBH Group in the Netherlands, we are better positioned than ever to support our customers and principals with local service, extended warehousing, and strong on-the-ground relationships.

Material Innovation Is Moving Beyond Sustainability Talk

Sustainability has long been a dominant theme at K, but this year the discussion was more action-driven. Recyclates, bio-based polymers, and circular system designs are now supported by scalable, commercially viable technologies rather than early-stage concepts.

Our principal Arkema is leading this shift through continued investment in safer, higher-performance materials. The latest Luperox® NeatCure® range is a clear example, delivering improved safety, easier handling, and consistent dispersion across peroxide crosslinking applications. It represents the next generation in Arkema’s long line of market-leading peroxide solutions.

For distributors, staying aligned with principals who are bringing these sustainable innovations to market is crucial. It ensures that customers gain access to materials that deliver both regulatory compliance and high performance.

Technical Expertise Is the New Differentiator

As material systems become more advanced, customers are looking for partners who offer more than product supply. They want technical expertise that drives innovation. Whether it involves optimising formulations, resolving performance challenges, or introducing new chemistries, the value now lies in translating technical capability into real-world application.

The Mflam range from Mei Wang illustrates this approach. These halogen-free flame retardants enable formulators to develop safer, high-quality materials that meet even the most stringent fire-retardancy standards. With increasing regulatory pressure on halogen-based additives, now is the ideal time for manufacturers to explore and adopt alternative technologies.

This philosophy continues to guide RBH’s strategy of combining commercial reach with deep technical knowledge to support customers and principals throughout Europe.

RBH Group continues to strengthen its partnerships across Europe, combining commercial reach with deep material expertise. Get in touch to learn how we can help optimise your formulations and supply chain strategies.

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