• FORVIA reported H1 2026 sales of €10.51 billion, down 4.3% year-on-year and 1.9% organically. • Operating income increased by 1.6% to €632 million, while the operating margin improved from 5.7% to 6.0%. • Performance varied sharply between business groups: Electronics and Clarion grew strongly, while Seating and Lighting recorded significant declines. • China remained particularly challenging, with FORVIA sales in the country falling 20.1% on a reported basis.
• The European Commission is seeking concrete commitments from China to address the widening EU-China trade imbalance. • Chinese exports of plastics, chemicals, textiles, machinery, batteries and electric and hybrid vehicles to the EU have increased sharply over the past year. • Brussels links part of this growth to Chinese industrial overcapacity and wants initial measures from Beijing by early October. • The EU's trade deficit with China reached €360.6 billion in 2025 and widened by a further 9% in the first half of 2026.
• Un studiu realizat pentru Smurfit Westrock Bag-in-Box arată rate ridicate de separare a componentelor ambalajelor Bag-in-Box în mai multe piețe europene. • În Germania, 97% dintre ambalajele analizate aveau sacul din plastic separat de cutia din carton. • Rate ridicate au fost înregistrate și în Belgia — 94% — și Suedia — 87%, în timp ce în Franța procentul indicat este de numai 67%. • Diferențele sugerează că sistemele locale de colectare, regulile de sortare și educarea consumatorilor influențează semnificativ comportamentul de reciclare. • Rezultatele sunt relevante în contextul PPWR și al dezbaterii privind proiectarea ambalajelor astfel încât componentele acestora să poată fi separate și reciclate corespunzător.
• Three major European recycling and waste management organisations are calling for stronger recognition of plastics collected and recycled within Europe. • Plastics Recyclers Europe, FEAD and Recycling Europe argue that European recycled materials should receive preferential treatment when companies comply with EU recycled-content targets. • The organisations warn that increasing imports of low-cost recycled plastics are putting European recyclers under severe competitive pressure. • They argue that EU circularity policies should create demand not only for recycled content, but also for recycling activities taking place within Europe. • The debate is becoming increasingly important as PPWR and other EU legislation progressively introduce mandatory recycled-content requirements.
• Türkiye’s total polymer imports fell below 500,000 tonnes in July 2026, reaching their lowest monthly level since November 2025. • Import volumes declined by 12% compared with June and by 18% year on year. • The total value of polymer imports dropped to USD 707 million. • In value terms, imports decreased by 9% month on month and 11% compared with July 225. • The figures provide another important signal of weaker activity in one of Europe’s neighbouring major polymer markets.
• European natural gas prices have returned to levels not seen since the 2022–2023 energy crisis. • Dutch TTF futures climbed above €75/MWh in early September, while Northeast Asian spot LNG reached its highest level since December 2022. • Disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz and restricted LNG flows are intensifying competition between European and Asian buyers. • Europe enters the approach to winter with relatively low gas inventories, increasing its exposure to prolonged high energy prices. • The situation could create renewed cost pressure across the European petrochemical, plastics processing and recycling industries.
• Regulile europene de ecodesign pentru smartphone-uri și tablete se aplică produselor introduse pe piața UE începând cu 20 iunie 2025. • Producătorii trebuie să îmbunătățească durabilitatea și reparabilitatea dispozitivelor și să asigure disponibilitatea anumitor piese de schimb. • Cerințele pot influența direct proiectarea carcaselor și a altor componente din plastic, precum și alegerea sistemelor de îmbinare și a adezivilor. • Designul pentru demontare devine tot mai important pentru producătorii de componente și pentru întregul lanț de reciclare.
• Competitively priced imports are adding further pressure to the European engineering recyclates market. • The market continues the difficult conditions observed during the summer months. • Demand recovery following the holiday season is expected to be slow. • PIE expects only limited price changes over the coming weeks. • For European recyclers, competition from imports adds another challenge to an already weak demand environment.
• The new EU Regulation on end-of-life vehicles entered into force on 13 August 2026. • New vehicle types will have to contain at least 15% recycled plastic from post-consumer waste from September 2032. • The mandatory recycled plastic content will increase to 25% from September 2036. • At least 20% of the recycled plastic required to meet the target will have to come from end-of-life vehicles or vehicle parts and components. • From 2032, the EU will also introduce an annual recycling target for plastics contained in end-of-life vehicles. • The new rules will directly affect vehicle manufacturers, Tier suppliers, plastics processors, compounders and recyclers.
• Noul Regulament UE privind vehiculele scoase din uz a intrat în vigoare la 13 august 2026. • Noile tipuri de vehicule vor trebui să conțină minimum 15% plastic reciclat post-consum din septembrie 2032. • Procentul va crește la 25% din septembrie 2036. • Cel puțin 20% din plasticul reciclat necesar pentru atingerea țintei va trebui să provină din vehicule scoase din uz sau din componente ale acestora. • Din 2032, UE introduce și o țintă anuală de reciclare a plasticului provenit din vehiculele scoase din uz. • Regulamentul va influența direct producătorii auto, furnizorii Tier, procesatorii de materiale plastice, compounderii și reciclatorii.
Comisia Europeană a adoptat Decizia de punere în aplicare (UE) 2026/1425, care stabilește noua metodologie oficială pentru calcularea, verificarea și raportarea conținutului de plastic reciclat utilizat în sticlele de unică folosință pentru băuturi. Noile reguli se aplică în contextul Directivei privind materialele plastice de unică folosință (SUP Directive) și urmăresc asigurarea unei trasabilități mai stricte a materialului reciclat utilizat pentru îndeplinirea obiectivelor europene.
• Plastics Recyclers Europe warns that the European plastics recycling industry is still facing a structural crisis. • The recent increase in oil prices has temporarily improved the competitiveness of recycled plastics, but it does not solve the sector’s underlying problems. • From 21 November 2026, exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be banned, putting additional pressure on Europe's recycling infrastructure. • The industry is calling for urgent measures to stimulate demand for recycled plastics produced in Europe and to accelerate investments in collection, sorting and recycling capacities. • Plastics Recyclers Europe warns that, without immediate action, Europe risks losing even more recycling capacity before new recycled-content requirements come into force.
• Parlamentul European a adoptat poziția privind noul regulament pentru vehiculele scoase din uz (ELV). • Constructorii auto vor trebui să utilizeze un procent minim de materiale plastice reciclate în vehiculele noi. • Măsura urmărește dezvoltarea unei piețe stabile pentru materialele plastice reciclate provenite din automobile. • Noile reguli vor stimula investițiile în reciclare, trasabilitate și tehnologii de procesare. • Industria europeană a maselor plastice și a reciclării va trebui să răspundă unor cerințe mult mai stricte privind calitatea materialelor reciclate.
• Uniunea Europeană analizează măsuri pentru consolidarea utilizării materialelor reciclate procesate în interiorul UE. • Industria reciclării solicită condiții concurențiale mai echitabile față de importurile din afara Europei. • Conținutul reciclat va deveni un element-cheie pentru numeroase industrii, inclusiv ambalaje, automotive și construcții. • Trasabilitatea și verificarea originii materialelor reciclate capătă o importanță strategică. • Reciclatorii europeni consideră că investițiile locale trebuie protejate și susținute prin politici industriale coerente.
• Approximately 200 European companies and organizations are asking the European Commission not to reopen the PPWR regulation. • The industry warns that renegotiating the regulation could delay already planned investments. • Many companies have already begun adapting packaging and processes to the new requirements. • Signatories call for accelerating secondary legislation and implementation guidelines. • The industry’s main message: stability and predictability, not new legislative negotiations.
• The European Commission has released official guidance documents for the implementation of PPWR. • The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will start applying on 12 August 2026. • The new guidance clarifies requirements related to recyclability, reuse, labeling, and recycled content. • All economic operators involved in packaging production and use will be affected. • PPWR represents the most significant legislative change in the European packaging sector in decades.
• Cererea pentru polimeri și materiale reciclate continuă să slăbească în Europa. • Convertoarele cumpără doar necesarul imediat și evită stocurile. • Așteptările privind noi scăderi de preț blochează comenzile. • Importurile ieftine exercită presiune suplimentară asupra producătorilor europeni. • Marjele producătorilor și reciclatorilor se comprimă tot mai mult. • Industria europeană riscă să intre într-un cerc vicios de scădere a cererii și a prețurilor.
• The European Union has entered the final preparation phase before banning plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries. • The measure will take effect on 21 November 2026. • Traders, brokers and recyclers will need to adapt their commercial flows and recovery strategies. • European recycling capacity will become increasingly important in managing available waste streams. • The launch of DIWASS marks the beginning of a new digital era in waste shipment traceability.
138 companies and industry organizations have asked the European Commission to postpone certain PPWR requirements scheduled to apply from 12 August 2026. Signatories include Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Kraft Heinz, Heineken and other major food and packaging companies. Industry representatives cite unresolved technical and regulatory issues, including PFAS testing methodologies, recyclability requirements and definitions of single-use packaging. More than 160 environmental and health organizations have urged the Commission to keep the current timeline unchanged. No official postponement of the PPWR implementation schedule has been announced by the European Commission.
On 18 May 2026, on the eve of Plastpol at Targi Kielce, Poland, more than 100 representatives of the plastics industry gathered for the Plastics Industry Meeting to address three structural pressures reshaping the sector: geopolitical instability, rising costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. The central question was how Europe can maintain a level playing field in the global plastics market without weakening its own industrial base.
The countdown is on: on 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation EU 2025/40) becomes mandatory across all EU member states, with no national transposition. With fewer than 80 days to the deadline, Europe's packaging industry is navigating compliance pressure, implementation uncertainties and a failed last-minute attempt by single-use packaging producers to delay the regulation.
A pilot run by the Global Impact Coalition — a coalition of BASF, Covestro, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC, Suez and Syensqo — confirms that plastics from end-of-life vehicles can be technically recovered and processed. The main barrier, however, is not technology: it is economic coordination and the absence of a functioning value chain across all actors involved.
• Cercetători europeni dezvoltă soluții pentru reutilizarea plasticelor provenite din vehicule scoase din uz (ELV) direct în automobile noi. • Proiectul urmărește crearea unei bucle „car-to-car” pentru materialele plastice auto. • Obiectivul este reducerea dependenței de materii prime virgine și creșterea utilizării materialelor reciclate. • Viitorul regulament european ELV pune presiune tot mai mare pe OEM-uri și furnizori. • Recuperarea plasticelor tehnice auto devine una dintre marile provocări ale industriei europene de reciclare.
• Mai multe organizații europene cer ca obiectivele UE privind conținutul reciclat să favorizeze materialele produse în Europa • Industria avertizează că importurile ieftine de material reciclat pot afecta investițiile europene în reciclare • Propunerea vizează în special viitoarele ținte obligatorii din regulamentul PPWR • Reciclatorii europeni solicită condiții egale pentru materialele importate și cele produse în UE • Tema devine strategică pentru industria europeană a maselor plastice și reciclării
Comisia Europeană analizează controale suplimentare pentru importurile de plastic reciclat • Reciclatorii europeni reclamă presiunea materialelor low-cost din afara UE • Se discută audituri și verificări stricte privind trasabilitatea și conținutul reciclat • Industria europeană cere protejarea capacităților locale de reciclare
The European Union is easing proposed recycled content requirements for plastics used in automotive applications • The new proposed overall target is 20% recycled content • Out of this, 15% should come from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) recycling streams • Main reason: Europe’s recycling and supply infrastructure is not yet sufficiently developed • Industry stakeholders warn about shortages in sorting and high-quality recycling capacities for automotive plastics
The European Union is introducing strict new rules under the Waste Shipments Regulation, including a ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries starting November 2026. The move is expected to significantly reshape recycling flows and increase pressure on Europe’s internal processing capacity.
Noua reglementare europeană privind transferul de deșeuri (Waste Shipments Regulation) aduce schimbări majore pentru reciclatori și traderi. Din noiembrie 2026, exporturile de deșeuri plastice către țări non-OECD vor fi interzise, iar procedurile din UE vor deveni complet digitalizate.
Following the publication of the PPWR implementation guidance by the European Commission, industry bodies such as European Brands Association and FoodDrinkEurope warn that significant uncertainties remain, particularly around recycled content verification, costs, and consistent application across EU member states.
A group of 16 European organizations from the recycling and materials sectors is calling on the European Commission to introduce a transition period for the new waste shipment rules set to enter into force on May 21, 2026, citing incomplete readiness of the digital system.
The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union intensify regulations on mandatory minimum recycled content in plastic packaging
European Commission has published an implementing act clarifying the methodology for calculating and reporting recycled content in packaging. The document establishes detailed technical criteria for compliance verification and directly impacts producers, converters, and recyclers across the EU.
Uniunea Europeană a finalizat noul Regulament privind ambalajele și deșeurile de ambalaje (PPWR), un cadru legislativ care va afecta direct producătorii de ambalaje, procesatorii de mase plastice, reciclatori și brandurile care pun produse pe piață. Regulamentul intră în aplicare din august 2026 și introduce cerințe obligatorii privind reciclabilitatea, conținutul reciclat și designul ambalajelor.
A recent investigation suggests that many plastic packages marketed in Europe as “recycled” or “sustainable” actually contain only limited amounts of recycled material. Communication practices and the use of mass-balance mechanisms raise serious questions about transparency and the accuracy of information provided to consumers
A growing number of plastic packaging claims on European supermarket shelves are considered misleading by experts. Specialists warn about the confusion between recyclable plastics, recycled plastics and so-called chemical recycling. The lack of clear standards and independent verification increases the risk of greenwashing.
Uniunea Europeană își consolidează strategia privind ambalajele din plastic, punând un accent tot mai puternic pe conținutul reciclat, design for recycling și responsabilitatea producătorilor pe întreg ciclul de viață al produselor. Direcțiile pentru 2026 indică o trecere de la obiective generale la criterii tehnice și economice concrete.
The European Commission is launching a set of pilot measures targeting demand, supply and the regulatory framework of plastics recycling, as a preparatory step ahead of the Circular Economy Act scheduled for 2026.
The European Commission has launched a package aimed at harmonising “end-of-waste” (EoW) criteria for recycled plastics across the EU. The draft is open for public consultation until 26 January 2026, while adoption of the criteria is expected later in 2026.
The European Commission has reaffirmed its priorities for plastics circularity in 2026, focusing on recycled content, market stabilisation and a closer alignment between environmental objectives and industrial competitiveness.
Europe’s plastics industry is facing a rapid loss of global competitiveness, driven by high costs, regulatory pressure and increasingly aggressive global markets.
The European plastics industry is calling for clear, harmonised and predictable rules on mandatory recycled content, warning that the lack of a coherent framework could slow investments and destabilise the market.
Uniunea Europeană repoziționează plasticul reciclat ca resursă strategică, esențială pentru autonomie industrială, reducerea dependenței de materii prime virgine și atingerea obiectivelor de economie circulară.
The European Commission has announced its legislative priorities for 2026 regarding the circular economy of plastics. The focus is on strengthening the market for recycled plastics, reducing dependence on virgin plastic, and harmonising rules across EU Member States.
The European Union is moving decisively into the implementation phase of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a legislative framework set to fundamentally reshape the design, use, and recycling of plastic packaging starting in 2026.
The European Commission has introduced a package of pilot actions designed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the EU’s plastics sector, with specific measures to support recycling industries — including chemical recycling — and address competitive pressures. European Commission
European recycling associations warn of severe economic pressure on the plastics recycling sector and call for urgent measures to support demand and protect existing capacities.
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on new rules covering vehicle circularity and the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The framework includes requirements aimed at increasing the use of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, in the automotive sector.
The European Commission has published the 2025 guidance introducing a unified framework for documenting and verifying the traceability of recycled plastics across the EU.
The European Commission has released the final version of the PPWR 2026 proposal, introducing stricter rules on packaging reduction, recyclability, and reuse targets across the EU market.
The European Commission is preparing a legislative Winter Package that will introduce harmonised End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for selected mechanically recycled plastics, enabling these materials to move freely across the European market as non-waste products.
Comisia Europeană anunță un nou pachet legislativ care va include criterii pentru ca anumite materiale plastice reciclate să părăsească statutul de „deșeu” și să circule liber pe piața europeană.
Industria europeană de reciclare a plasticului intră într-o fază critică: cifra de afaceri scade cu 5,5%, numeroase unități se închid, iar capacitatea pierdută se apropie de un milion de tone în ultimii trei ani.
A new European Commission report reveals that only 22% of plastics used in car manufacturing are currently recycled. Brussels now proposes legislative measures to increase recycled content and build a circular supply chain for automotive plastics across the EU.
The European Union formally adopts End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for recycled polyethylene (rPE) and polypropylene (rPP), establishing harmonized quality standards across the EU.
• The European Parliament approves tougher rules on packaging and plastic waste management. • New reduction targets: -10% by 2030, -15% by 2035, and -20% by 2040. • Producers will have to include minimum recycled content in all plastic packaging.
The European Union, through PlasticsEurope and the European Circular Economy Platform, has launched the Circular Plastics Initiative (CPI) — a roadmap aimed at achieving 30% mandatory recycled content in all plastic products by 2030.
The European plastics sector is warning that a lack of timely EU action on recycling and competitiveness could lead to a wave of factory closures across the continent.
The European Parliament is approaching the second reading of the upcoming EU Regulation on plastic pellet losses, targeting a 74% reduction of microplastic emissions by improving handling, storage, and transport procedures. SMEs will have simplified compliance schemes.
Proiectul de strategie europeană pentru 2030 introduce ținte obligatorii de conținut reciclat în ambalaje, interdicții treptate pentru materialele nereciclabile și o platformă digitală de trasabilitate a polimerilor. Documentul marchează cel mai ambițios pas al Uniunii Europene în direcția unui sistem complet circular pentru masele plastice
A new international report shows that European circular economy policies will redefine global demand for recycled plastic materials by 2030.
Eurostat has released new data showing that every EU citizen generated an average of 35.3 kg of plastic packaging waste in 2023 — a steady rise compared to previous years.
The European Commission is discussing a new industrial support plan for compounders, aiming to stabilize the polymer supply chain and boost competitiveness amid rising energy and raw material costs.
Europe’s plastics producers warn of a deepening competitiveness crisis, as energy prices, regulatory complexity, and investment flight threaten the sector’s survival.
In September 2025, the EU adopted its first regulation specifically targeting plastic pellet losses, a major contributor to microplastic pollution. The new law introduces strict containment, traceability, and auditing requirements across the entire plastics value chain.
A new FutuRaM report highlights the vast potential of electronic waste (e-waste) as a domestic source of critical raw materials (CRMs) essential to the green transition.
Stronger control over waste and secondary material imports from non-EU countries.
The European Commission will soon publish harmonized End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for PP and PE recyclates.
The European Commission is moving into the final consultation stage for defining End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria applicable to recycled polyolefins — mainly polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). This long-awaited regulatory step could reshape the European recycling market by allowing certified recyclates to be officially classified as secondary raw materials, not waste.
Două dintre cele mai mari companii europene — Airbus și Renault — solicită eliminarea Directivei UE privind due diligence în domeniul sustenabilității corporative (CSDDD), considerând că aceasta aduce birocrație excesivă și riscă să afecteze competitivitatea industriei europene.
Noul Regulament european introduce, din 2026, un sistem digital obligatoriu pentru trasabilitatea transporturilor de deșeuri între statele membre.
- The European Commission is finalising the proposal for End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for plastics. - Regulation clarifies when recycled materials cease to be classified as waste. - Expected to boost cross-border trade and recyclate certification across the EU. - Publication anticipated within the next few weeks.
The European Commission has officially launched the Digital Plastic Passport, a system designed to track and verify the origin, composition, and destination of recycled plastics across the EU. The new digital tool will become mandatory by 2027 for all recyclers and converters operating within the Union.
Parlamentul European a aprobat în septembrie pachetul legislativ privind ELV și conținut minim de plastic reciclat în vehicule
The European Commission has presented an updated draft of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), setting binding targets for recycled content in plastic packaging and a 65% recycling rate by 2030.
Plastics Recyclers Europe estimează că între 2023 și sfârșitul lui 2025 se va pierde ~1 milion tone de capacitate de reciclare, din cauza închiderilor accelerate ale fabricilor de reciclare.
The European Union introduces stricter rules on the traceability and certification of recycled plastics imported from Asia, especially LDPE and PP.
Regulamentul PPWR, intrat în vigoare în februarie 2025, redefinește piața ambalajelor prin obiective obligatorii de reciclare, reutilizare și eliminare a substanțelor periculoase.
Beverage producers across the EU report a shortage of high-quality r-PET.
Comisia Europeană a trimis o scrisoare României, cerând corectarea transpunerii Directivei privind plasticul de unică folosință (SUP), invocând abateri legislative precum scutiri nepermise și lipsa stimulentelor pentru alternative durabile.
MEPs propose that every new type of vehicle should contain at least 20% recycled plastic within six years after the regulation enters into force.