Short CV

Thanks to his great passion for people, sales and plastics, Ulrich Reifenhäuser has become a defining face of the industry. Born in 1957, he first worked in the extruder construction department of his father's company, which had made a name for itself in plastics extrusion, at the age of 16. After studying economics at the University of Cologne, Ulrich Reifenhäuser started his career in 1983, initially at Krupp Industrietechnik as a divisional controller in the hydraulic hammers division. In 1986, his father Hans Reifenhäuser brought him into the company. As CSO, he now leads the Reifenhäuser family business in the third generation together with his brother Bernd Reifenhäuser (CEO). As Chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), President of the K Trade Fair in Düsseldorf and member of the Plastics Hall of Fame of the US Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), he has been shaping and driving the industry for many years.

Don Loepp was named Plastics News' Editor in April 2011. He was promoted to Editorial Director, adding responsibilities for Plastics News Europe, Plastics & Rubber World, Rubber & Plastics News, Tire Business and European Rubber Journal in 2017 and 2019. He earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University in 1983. Loepp then worked as a reporter for two years for The Milwaukee Journal in Wisconsin and for six years at the Daily Press and Times-Herald daily newspapers in Newport News, Va., before joining Plastics News as a staff reporter in 1991. He was promoted to news editor in mid-1993, and became managing editor two years later.

Feliks is currently leading Mars global circular packaging strategy with a special focus on improving recycling of flexible packaging. He is passionate about circular economy and keen to develop systemic solutions to improve the recyclability of plastic and paper-based packaging. He has extensive experience in packaging design and recycling infrastructure and for more than 15 years he has been involved in various sustainability positions helping companies such as Renault, Tarkett and Danone to transition towards circular economy.