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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

- PE prices in April moved up by approximately 660 €/tonne, bringing total 2026 increases to around 990 €/tonne
- PP suppliers seek additional non-monomer price increases of 88–220 €/tonne on top of rising PGP contract settlements
- PS prices driven up by sharply higher benzene and butadiene feedstock costs
- PVC and PET also record increases, supported by plant shutdowns and raw material cost pressure
- Iranian conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to impact global energy and feedstock supply chains

• RetuRO a comunicat tarifele de administrare finale pentru anul 2026 în cadrul Sistemului de Garanție-Returnare (SGR).
• Noile tarife vor intra în vigoare la 8 iunie 2026.
• Diferențele dintre tarifele interimare aplicate de la 1 ianuarie 2026 și tarifele finale vor fi regularizate ulterior.
• Costurile sunt suportate de producătorii și importatorii de băuturi pentru fiecare ambalaj SGR introdus pe piață.
• Tarifele diferă în funcție de material, dimensiune și culoarea ambalajului.

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.

• 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

Sistemul de Garanție-Returnare (SGR) din România a depășit pragul de 10 miliarde de ambalaje colectate de la lansare
• RetuRO anunță o rată medie de colectare de aproximativ 83% în 2025
• În primele patru luni din 2026, rata medie de colectare a ajuns la aproximativ 85%
• Peste 740.000 de tone de PET, aluminiu și sticlă au fost trimise către reciclatori
• România este prezentată ca unul dintre cele mai rapide sisteme SGR dezvoltate la nivel european

• România a produs 31.450 autoturisme în aprilie 2026
• Scădere de -28,9% comparativ cu aprilie 2025
• Uzina Dacia Mioveni: 18.366 unități
• Uzina Ford Otosan Craiova: 13.084 unități
• Industria componentelor și a materialelor plastice pentru automotive poate resimți efecte indirecte

• 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

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.

O explozie produsă vineri, 22 mai 2026, în timpul repornirii unității Olefin 1 a grupului MOL Petrochemicals din Tiszaújváros, Ungaria, a ucis un muncitor și a rănit alți nouă. Incidentul, clasificat drept accident industrial, ridică semne de întrebare privind disponibilitatea olefinelor pentru industria plasticelor din Europa Centrală și de Est.

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.

Experții FAO (Organizația ONU pentru Alimentație și Agricultură) avertizează că utilizarea plasticului reciclat în ambalajele pentru alimente ridică întrebări importante privind siguranța alimentară și necesită sisteme de reciclare atent gestionate, pentru a preveni migrarea substanțelor chimice dăunătoare în alimente. Raportul vine în contextul în care legislația europeană (PPWR) introduce cerințe obligatorii de conținut reciclat în ambalajele alimentare.

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.

• Arburg continues expanding digital platforms for plastics manufacturing control and monitoring.
• Demand for electric injection molding machines and integrated automation keeps growing.
• The company focuses on real-time monitoring, traceability, and energy efficiency.
• Solutions are developed for automotive, medical, packaging, and technical applications.
• Smart factories and integrated production cells are becoming the new industry standard.

• ENGEL continues expanding its smart factory and automated production solutions.
• The company is focusing on digitalization, energy efficiency, and traceability.
• Medical, automotive, and technical components remain key target sectors.
• Demand for integrated “ready-to-produce” manufacturing cells is increasing.
• Automation and real-time production monitoring are becoming increasingly important across the European plastics industry.

• Nouryon a prezentat la PRSE 2026 o tehnologie nouă pentru îmbunătățirea proprietăților polipropilenei reciclate.
• Soluția utilizează peroxizi speciali pentru modificarea controlată a structurii PP reciclat.
• Tehnologia este destinată în special aplicațiilor unde PP reciclat degradat are limitări mecanice sau de procesare.
• Industria automotive și sectorul ambalajelor sunt printre domeniile vizate.
• Subiectul vine într-un moment în care UE crește presiunea pentru utilizarea materialelor reciclate în produse noi.

• 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

• Uniunea Europeană accelerează implementarea sistemului digital DIWASS pentru transporturile de deșeuri
• Sistemul va digitaliza documentele și trasabilitatea transporturilor transfrontaliere
• Traderii, brokerii, reciclatorii și transportatorii vor fi direct afectați
• Obiectivul UE este creșterea controlului și reducerea fraudelor din sector
• Industria reciclării din România trebuie să se pregătească pentru noile proceduri digitale

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

Stellantis oprește temporar producția la fabrica Cassino din Italia
• Uzina produce modele Alfa Romeo Giulia, Stelvio și Maserati Grecale
• Producția din 2025 a coborât sub 18.000 de vehicule
• Pentru 2026 se estimează aproximativ 13.000 de unități
• Nivelul este considerat critic din perspectiva utilizării capacității industriale

Germania accelerează reconversia industrială dinspre automotive către apărare
• Mercedes-Benz a raportat o scădere a profitului de 49% în 2025
• Volkswagen a înregistrat un declin de 44% al profitului
• Berlinul susține transformarea unor capacități industriale către producția militară
• Industria materialelor plastice și furnizorii auto pot fi afectați direct de schimbarea comenzilor industriale

Polish group Orlen is close to finalizing the acquisition of GA Polyolefins (former BASF–INEOS joint venture), a major polyethylene producer based in Antwerp. The deal could significantly impact raw material supply for processors across Central and Eastern Europe.

Deși volumele colectate cresc, calitatea neuniformă a deșeurilor reduce eficiența reciclării, crește costurile și limitează utilizarea materialelor reciclate în aplicații industriale.

From March 31, 2026, England implements simplified nationwide recycling rules, while from April 1, the plastic packaging tax rises to £228.82/tonne for materials containing less than 30% recycled content.

Cel puțin 12 producători auto globali anunță restructurări majore.
Sunt vizate atât platforme electrice (EV), cât și modele convenționale.
Deciziile includ amânări, reduceri sau abandonuri de proiecte.
Este considerată cea mai amplă recalibrare din ultimul deceniu.

• Oil rises to 110–115 USD/barrel → feedstock +50–60%
• Dow doubles PE increase to +30 cents/lb (~660 USD/ton)
• LyondellBasell, INEOS, Borealis declare force majeure
• SABIC introduces energy surcharges on engineering plastics
• ABS, PMMA, PET and PP see rapid global price increases

• Petrolul urcă la 110–115 USD/baril → feedstock +50–60%
• Dow dublează creșterea PE la +30 cenți/lb (~660 USD/t)
• LyondellBasell, INEOS, Borealis declară force majeure
• SABIC introduce surcharge pe materiale tehnice
• ABS, PMMA, PET și PP în creșteri accelerate

Oil volatility begins to reshape polymer market dynamics

Rising demand for anti-block masterbatch in plastic films

Investițiile industriale mută capacitățile de injecție spre Europa de Est

Conflictul din Orientul Mijlociu ridică petrolul și începe să influențeze piața polimerilor

Key exhibitions for injection molding technologies

German chemical group BASF is accelerating the development of its ChemCycling program, integrating feedstock derived from chemical recycling into polymer production.

Key trends shaping the European plastic industry this week

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.

EU Member States have supported the inclusion of chemical recycling within the regulatory framework defining minimum recycled content in plastic packaging. The move could accelerate investment in advanced recycling technologies and directly impact the PCR materials market.

United Nations has introduced the first comprehensive global trade database covering plastics and related products. The system maps approximately USD 390 billion in annual trade flows and more than 100 million tonnes of plastic materials exchanged worldwide. The tool is expected to significantly influence negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty.

Săptămâna aceasta aduce semnale strategice importante la nivel global: proiecte petrochimice contestate, investiții EV suspendate, separări de business în packaging, avertismente privind reglementările în reciclare și noi parteneriate pentru reciclarea vehiculelor scoase din uz.

Plastics • Recycling • Materials • Industry

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 recycled polypropylene (rPP) market enters 2026 in a difficult environment, characterized by weak Q1 demand, downward price pressure, and intensified competition from virgin material. Value-chain players are adopting cautious strategies and becoming more selective regarding end-use applications.

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.

The report “Plastics the Fast Facts 2025”, published by PlasticsEurope in October 2025, shows that the European plastics industry continues to face significant structural pressure, despite a modest stabilisation in production following the sharp downturn in 2023.

The European Union is preparing to introduce stricter controls on imported plastics in 2026 to help its struggling recycling industry, amid record recycling capacity losses and competitive pressures from low-cost imports of virgin plastics.

Piața materialelor plastice din România încheie anul 2025 dominată de presiuni pe prețuri la principalele polimeri (PP și PE) și de o cerere volatilă, într-un context regional caracterizat de incertitudini economice și schimbări structurale ale lanțurilor de aprovizionare.

The global recycled thermoplastics market is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade, from around USD 63 billion in 2025 to more than USD 145 billion by 2034. Growth is driven by demand from packaging, automotive and construction, alongside tightening sustainability regulations.

EREMA Group has introduced a fully integrated dual-system combining advanced sorting and controlled-pressure extrusion, designed specifically for high-volume post-consumer plastic recycling.

GreenGroup has completed the upgrade of its Buzău facility, raising its total PET recycling capacity to 180,000 tonnes per year.

Ecomondo 2025 set new attendance records and confirmed its role as a global hub for the circular economy. With over 1,700 exhibitors, international delegations from 65 countries and strong focus areas such as plastics recycling, WEEE, critical raw materials and digitalisation, the event delivered clear signals for the direction of the plastic and recycling secto

Circular Valley Forum 2025 highlights the importance of cross-border and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate circular economy projects, with a significant focus on packaging, plastics, and resource management

Conform datelor OPCOM, prețul mediu pe piața pentru ziua următoare (DAM) a scăzut la 506,05 lei/MWh, cu 7% mai puțin față de august.

The world’s largest trade fair for plastics and rubber – K2025, taking place from 8–15 October 2025 in Düsseldorf – is set to host more than 3,000 exhibitors from over 150 countries, with an estimated 180,000 visitors. Key themes: circular economy, digitalization, and sustainable materials.

Westlake Corporation, lider global în industria maselor plastice, a achiziționat unitățile de compounding ACI/Perplastic, inclusiv fabrica din Parcul Industrial Arad. Tranzacția este programată să fie finalizată la începutul anului 2026.