• Aliplast recycled 91.7% of the plastic film waste generated by Italian wine producer Cantina Pizzolato in 2025. • Around 19.8 tonnes of plastic film were collected and sent for recycling through a dedicated closed-loop system. • The recovered material is sorted, washed and processed into recycled plastic granules. • The recyclate is used to manufacture new film containing 30% recycled material, which returns to Cantina Pizzolato for use in its operations.
• 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.
• Veniturile generate de Plastic Packaging Tax din Regatul Unit au scăzut la 250 milioane GBP în anul fiscal 2025/26, față de 261 milioane GBP în 2024/25. • Doar 37% din cantitatea totală de ambalaje din plastic declarată în 2025/26 a fost supusă taxei. • Aproximativ 1,506 milioane de tone de ambalaje au fost declarate ca având minimum 30% plastic reciclat, față de 1,569 milioane de tone în anul precedent. • Scăderea veniturilor din taxă nu poate fi interpretată automat drept o creștere a utilizării materialului reciclat. • Din aprilie 2027, Regatul Unit va permite utilizarea metodei mass balance pentru contabilizarea plasticului provenit din reciclare chimică în cadrul taxei.
• Around 4.5 tonnes of recycled plastic were incorporated into a test section of State Highway 205 in Rockwall, Texas. • The recycled plastic replaces approximately 8–10% of the bitumen used as asphalt binder — not the entire bitumen content. • The project is testing performance under real traffic, high temperatures, cracking and rutting conditions. • Researchers are also evaluating whether the technology could provide an outlet for low-value plastic waste that is difficult to recycle through conventional routes. • The road section was constructed in May 2025 and is being monitored over time to assess its long-term performance.
• 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.
• Aliplast Polska has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 70% stake in Kronos Polymer Polska. • The Polish company operates a modern facility for sorting, grinding and washing polyethylene waste. • The installed capacity of the Gniew, Poland plant is 12,000 tonnes per year. • The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, subject to conditions and the transfer of required permits. • Aliplast aims to double its total production capacity to over 210,000 tonnes per year of recycled plastic raw materials.
• 765,972 tonnes of PVC waste were recycled in 2025 through the VinylPlus programme. • The recycled volume increased by 5.7% compared to 2024. • Since 2000, the European PVC industry has recycled a total of 10.3 million tonnes of PVC. • The sector remains strategically important for construction, infrastructure, cables, window profiles, pipes and technical applications. • The results confirm that PVC has one of the most advanced recycling infrastructures within the European plastics industry.
British company withdraws from its Scandinavian investments, warning that the current European market does not yet provide the conditions needed for advanced recycling to become commercially viable • Viridor will close all of its European chemical recycling operations. • The decision affects the company's facilities in Skive (Denmark), Oslo (Norway) and Malmö (Sweden). • The company cites weak demand for recycled plastics and continued pressure from low-priced virgin materials. • Viridor believes that the current regulatory framework does not provide the long-term certainty required to support investments in chemical recycling. • The facilities will be closed following the completion of consultation processes with employees and relevant stakeholders.
• Ampacet has been selected as a finalist at the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe with a new masterbatch developed for flexible films containing post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. • The solution is designed to improve processing stability and maintain the required slip performance in films with higher recycled content. • It addresses one of the key technical challenges faced by film producers as PCR content continues to increase. • The development reflects the growing importance of specialty additives in enabling high-performance recycled plastic applications.
• 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.
• A new peroxide-based technology promises to improve the properties of recycled polypropylene. • The solution was presented at Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE) 2026. • The technology aims to enhance mechanical performance and expand the range of applications for recycled materials. • The development could help increase the use of recycled content in new products. • The industry is actively seeking solutions to reduce the performance gap between recycled and virgin polymers.
• The European Union is preparing rules that favor recycling activities carried out within Europe. • Recycled materials imported from outside the EU will be subject to stricter verification and traceability requirements. • The objective is to protect European recycling capacities and support local investments. • Industry representatives warn that the European recycling market is already under pressure from low-cost imports. • The new rules could have a significant impact on recyclers, traders, and users of recycled materials.
• Researchers and developers in the Netherlands are testing a technology based on Solvothermal Liquefaction (STL). • The process could convert mixed plastic waste into oil with characteristics comparable to virgin petrochemical feedstocks. • The technology may reduce the industry's dependence on complex waste sorting operations. • Initial pilot projects are already being evaluated for industrial applications. • The recycling sector is closely monitoring energy consumption and commercial viability.
The automotive industry continues to accelerate the integration of recycled materials into mass-produced vehicles, with the latest example coming from the collaboration between Covestro and Lexus.
Major Italian recyclers have stopped collecting bales from sorting centres • Sorting centres risk reaching maximum storage capacity and halting acceptance of mixed plastic waste • Industry association Assorimap is calling for urgent measures, including bringing forward mandatory recycled content requirements to 2027 • Italy's €450/tonne single-use plastics tax has been postponed for the eighth time, now to January 2027 • High energy costs and competition from non-EU imports of virgin and recycled plastic
• Plastics Europe has published the 2026 edition of The Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Analysis. • The report reviews the evolution of the European plastics system during the 2022–2024 period. • Circular plastics production in Europe reached 8.7 million tonnes in 2024. • Annual growth in circular plastics production slowed significantly, from 13.6% in 2022 to just 1.2% in 2024. • 70.4% of collected plastic waste in Europe was still sent to incineration or landfill.
• The European recycled plastics market remains volatile in May 2026 • rPE (recycled polyethylene) prices show moderate increases in certain segments • rPET and rPP continue to face limited availability and cautious demand • Processors are still closely comparing recycled versus virgin material costs • Regulatory pressure regarding recycled content targets is increasingly influencing purchasing strategies
• L-Boxx Contractor won at Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026 • Product contains more than 70% post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PCR) • Material originates from end-of-life vehicles and large household appliances • Product still meets Bosch requirements for impact and drop resistance • Example of mechanical recycling integrated into a demanding technical application
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.
The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led organisation of major chemical companies, has published the results of the first phase of its "Automotive Plastics Circularity" project in May 2026: plastics from end-of-life vehicles can be technically recovered and processed at scale, but commercial viability remains the industry's primary challenge.
China is increasing its exports of recycled plastics, particularly rPET and rPP, with estimated growth of 15–25% in recent years. This trend is creating direct competitive pressure on European recyclers and traders.
The International Automotive Recycling Congress (IARC) 2026, starting on March 25 in Hamburg, highlights the growing importance of recycling in the European automotive industry. Bringing together up to 300 industry decision-makers, the event marks a critical step toward circularity, with an increasing focus on plastic materials.
• The European packaging and recycling industry is calling for recycled material to originate from Europe • The measure is linked to upcoming mandatory recycled content targets • The objective is to protect EU recycling capacities
The European plastics recycling industry is facing increasing economic pressure. Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) warns that several recycling plants across the EU may be forced to reduce operations or even shut down due to rising costs and global market competition.
Fushun Ejet Magnetic Equipment Co., Ltd. has launched a new eddy current separator designed to remove fine aluminum particles from PET flakes. The solution aims to improve rPET purity and reduce processing losses in recycling operations.
A recent market report indicates sustained growth in global demand for rHDPE (post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene), driven by mandatory recycled content requirements and increasing pressure for circular packaging solutions.
Italian authorities have published updated guidance on End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for recycled plastics, bringing more clarity on when a material ceases to be waste and becomes a secondary raw material.
MOL Group has completed an ISCC PLUS–certified industrial test, integrating circular feedstock derived from post-consumer plastic waste into a steam cracker at its Tiszaújváros site, enabling the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) using a mass balance approach.
Italy is entering a dangerous zone: waste is available and collection works, but recycling is starting to stall due to weak demand and poor economic viability.
Plastic recyclers in Italy have temporarily stopped collecting bales from sorting facilities, citing market stress, quality issues, and the lack of clear regulatory signals on recycled content targets.
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
The European Commission plans to introduce stricter measures in early 2026 regarding imports of recycled plastics. The initiative aims to clearly distinguish between recycled and virgin materials and could have a direct impact on the European recycled polymers market.
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.
The European Commission is setting a clear agenda for plastics circularity in 2026, focusing on increasing the use of recycled plastics, legislative clarification (including end-of-waste criteria), and policy tools designed to stimulate demand for recycled materials in packaging.
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.
Australia’s plastics recycling sector is facing a severe structural crisis, as cheap imports of virgin plastic undermine the competitiveness of recycled materials. Industry representatives warn that without urgent policy intervention, recycling infrastructure risks large-scale closures.
Researchers at Yale University have developed an electrified pyrolysis process capable of converting mixed plastic waste into aviation fuel, achieving yields of up to 70–80%, with potential applications in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Colgate-Palmolive has introduced 100% recyclable toothpaste tubes, manufactured entirely from HDPE, aiming to simplify recycling streams and significantly reduce packaging waste. The initiative is first rolled out in Brazil, with potential global scaling.
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.
Italy’s national packaging consortium, Corepla, recorded an 11% growth in rigid plastic collection in 2025, driven by improved sorting infrastructure and higher consumer participation.
BASF has introduced a new portfolio of polyamides manufactured exclusively from electronic waste (WEEE), in line with Europe’s growing demand for high-performance recycled engineering plastics.
GreenGroup has completed the upgrade of its Buzău facility, raising its total PET recycling capacity to 180,000 tonnes per year.
Plastics Recyclers Europe reports a 50% surge in facility shutdowns in 2025, resulting in the disappearance of almost 1 million tons of recycling capacity across the EU.
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.
Budapest introduces a digital collection system for household plastics, enhancing urban recycling traceability.
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.
A new industrial partnership strengthens Serbia’s recycling capacity for polypropylene (PP) regranulate, targeting export markets in Central Europe.
Coca-Cola’s European operations announced that half of all PET bottles now contain recycled plastic, marking a milestone for the company’s sustainability strategy.
Italy launches a mandatory digital registry for recycled plastic tracking.
According to the 2025 Corepla report, Italy has achieved a 58% recycling rate for plastic packaging, surpassing the EU average of 45%. This milestone reflects continuous investments in infrastructure and advanced sorting technologies.
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.
Coca-Cola Europe announced that by 2026, 70% of its PET bottles will be made from recycled plastic.
The European Union introduces stricter rules on the traceability and certification of recycled plastics imported from Asia, especially LDPE and PP.
Italian recycling companies warn that the crisis in plastic recycling is uneven across Europe, calling for a permanent institutional forum and urgent industrial policy measures to stabilize the sector.
The new ELV package introduces binding recycled content targets for plastics in vehicles, along with easier dismantling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
A European investment fund announces the construction of a new state-of-the-art PET recycling plant in Poland, to meet the growing demand for high-quality rPET from packaging producers.
MEPs propose that every new type of vehicle should contain at least 20% recycled plastic within six years after the regulation enters into force.
PET and HDPE stocks are piling up in collection centers, with no clear destination.