A path to the policy makers

Several of the German plastics industry's trade associations cooperate with eachother to lobby the public and parliament with a combined message, although occasionally they may disagree on certain issues. There are about 1,000 members in the Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie (GKV) converters' trade association, with GKV in conflict with the other plastics associations over rising raw material costs. The Verband Kunststofferzeugende Industrie (VKE) raw materials trade association claims the free market decides the prices. The associations' interests are examined.