APE Europe welcomes Kathleen Laissy as Managing Director

Brussels, 15 October 2025 — Following a comprehensive three-month selection process, Agriculture, Plastics and Environment (APE Europe) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen Laissy as Managing Director.

This appointment marks a new chapter for agricultural plastics in Europe, now fully recognised and set to be increasingly addressed within forthcoming European environmental legislation. The APE Europe Board is confident that Kathleen’s experience, leadership, and deep understanding of stakeholder dynamics will strengthen the association’s role at this pivotal moment.

Having officially taken up her position this week, Kathleen Laissy is already working in close collaboration with Bernard Le Moine, former Managing Director. Bernard is sharing his strategic vision and long-standing expertise to support Kathleen’s operational drive and stakeholder-focused approach. Their shared ambition is to ensure that APE Europe continues to play a leading role in advancing sustainable practices and policies for agricultural plastics.

Bernard Le Moine warmly welcomes Kathleen to this new challenge, stating:

“Agricultural plastics require new energy and a renewed vision to address the many challenges ahead — the development of national collection and recycling schemes (NCRS), the evolving recycling landscape, and the new European legislative framework that will shape the future of our sector.”

Andreas Malmberg, recently elected President of APE Europe, has set out a new roadmap for the association. In her first months, Kathleen Laissy will focus on strengthening relationships with APE Europe’s members, national collection and recycling scheme (NCRS) operators, and key European institutions. She will also lead a review of APE Europe’s strategy and governance framework, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned around a clear roadmap for circularity and the responsible management of agricultural plastics.

APE Europe’s advocacy priorities will continue to focus on key areas such as the Circular Economy Act (CEA), the coordination of NCRS implementation across Member States, and the association’s positioning on agricultural plastics and microplastics.

“In these decisive times for our sector, Kathleen’s arrival strengthens our association, enabling it to have a greater voice in the ongoing European debates. These discussions must deliver sustainable solutions for the management of used agricultural plastics while safeguarding the competitiveness of farmers’ production,” said Andreas Malmberg.

The Board of Directors warmly welcomes Kathleen Laissy and invites all members and partners to support this important new phase, aimed at strengthening the circular economy for plastics in agriculture across Europe