Dear Reader,

Sustainable development means an economical and technological development that is geared toward preserving the basis for future generations by the careful use of resources and energy. This is, for all those who bear responsibility in industry and society, the only imaginable way into a peaceful future. More and more this philosophy is gaining influence in many parts of life, and it will lead to fundamental changes in technology and economy.

Already our technological development in many regards is influenced by the endeavor for sustainability. As a consequence, a structural change comparable with the industrial revolution of the 19th century will follow. And in that, the plastics industry will play a pioneering role as it holds the key to sustainability with its products. In particular the organic materials provide an immense stimulus to focus our research efforts toward sustainability.

The first technology boost brought a universe of new products and processes to the markets, providing solutions in almost all aspects of human life. At the same time the industry became aware of the fact that economic success has to be joined with sustainability.

Sustainable development also becomes an important issue in the traditionally good collaboration of scientists and engineers in both industry- and public-funded academic research. Exploring the fundamentals of sustainable processes and finding sustainable ways to new products have become core topics in many governmentally sponsored research institutions. Of particular interest is gaining access to the fundamental principles that may then help find solutions to current challenges.

Research and development is the best strategy for survival of an economy based on a technologically leading industry. I am convinced this is the road industry and science have to go down jointly, thus showing politicians that only actively and responsibly using the innovative potential of industry and its scientists and engineers saves the basis for future generations; the answer is not regulation and populistic activism.

Setting the right strategic goals and providing generous financial resources is then the role of politics.

With Visions in Plastics - VIP, Wiley/GIT intends to document the current state and progress of the very idea of sustainability by presenting a broad spectrum of individual activities in industry, research institutions and societies. The enormous feedback of the previous years is a strong encouragement to continue this way and once again to give evidence for the role of plastics and polymers in this development.

The contributions also give proof of the initiative and awareness in industry and science. They shall motivate others to go similar ways and to show the public how a modern industrial society deals with the challenges of its future.  

So which are the most significant trends? Their nature and direction will be defined by social needs and the demands derived from that: climate- and resource-saving energy supply, sustainable mobility, and an improvement of the nutritional situation in wide parts of our planet.

There are many possibilities: The efficiency of already existing processes and systems can be improved by using renewable resources. But also entirely new and innovative solutions are possible. In many cases, new materials are the key to success, with plastics being the front-runner. They offer unbeatable advantages in manufacturing, processing and the final application. The possibility to tailor plastics precisely according to the needs clearly puts the focus on this class of materials for sustainable material development.

Visions in Plastics 2013 documents the creativity and innovative power of our companies and research institutions. Moreover, we want to show how structural measures such as refocusing R&D, and the collaboration of research institutions in industry and academia, paired with interdisciplinary collaboration along the chain of value creation, can bring us forward on the road to sustainable development.