SECOND DAY OF COLAB ENTITLED “HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF PLASTIC USE”

Three days (25–27 May 2026) of inspiring meetings at Asten Group S.A., focused on plastics and microplastics!

On May 26, the second day of the CoLAB entitled “Health and environmental aspects of plastic use: the problem of microplastics” took place.

The event was held from 25 to 27 May 2026 at Asten Group S.A. in Czestochowa. The symposium was organised as part of the activities specified in the schedule of the “European Universities” project, which brings together nine partner universities within the COLOURS Alliance.

The second day included two parallel workshops and an expert panel discussion.

The first workshop, in its first part, focused on the impact of modern machinery on ecology, including the application of environmentally friendly materials in industry. The second part of the workshop addressed the automation of injection moulding processes in support of ecology and modern industry.

The second workshop explored the topic of mediation in the field of ecology, during which participants became familiar with conflict resolution mechanisms aimed at reaching mutual understanding and agreement.

Furthermore, the three-hour expert panel discussion provided a platform for interdisciplinary reflection on current environmental and health-related challenges resulting from excessive plastic waste, including microplastics. It also enabled the exchange of experiences, the presentation of best practices, and dialogue with key institutions involved in preventing plastic pollution in a broad sense, both in Poland and across Europe.

The panel brought together experts representing diverse backgrounds - both practitioners and theorists - including policymakers, representatives of non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, specialists, and leaders from key scientific disciplines, such as earth and environmental sciences, chemistry, biology, medicine, and law. This created a unique space for exchanging perspectives and fostered reflection and further discussion on the issues addressed.

The following experts participated in the panel discussion:
- prof. Marek Kowalczuk – Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences in Zabrze
- dr Danuta Ciechańska – President of the Management Board, Biobased Economy Cluster Association
- dr Andrzej Reindl – Department of Environmental Toxicology, Medical University of Gdansk
- Małgorzata Żmudka-Wyrwał – Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
- dr Anna Kozera-Szałkowska – Managing Director of the PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation
- Magdalena Pantoł – Head of the Bioplastics Design and Application Centre, Corporate Department of Strategy and Development, Grupa Azoty S.A.; Białystok University of Technology
- Piotr Strach – Member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm of the Republic of Poland)
- Judyta Belka-Domińczyk – Vice-President of the Management Board, Czestochowa Municipal Company Ltd.
- Asteniusz Myśliwiec – ASTEN Group S.A.
T- adeusz Szymanek – Green Pack Manufacturing, Trade and Service Company – Szymanek Packaging

At the same time, the second phase of the Hackathon competition (“Make It, Test It”) was taking place. Participants (students), working individually or in teams, developed innovative solutions aimed at increasing public awareness of the risks associated with improper plastic waste management.