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Italy has requested a temporary suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), arguing that price volatility is increasingly affecting industrial competitiveness. The move comes at a critical moment, ahead of a major revision of the mechanism at EU level.

Italy has requested a temporary suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), arguing that price volatility is increasingly affecting industrial competitiveness. The move comes at a critical moment, ahead of a major revision of the mechanism at EU level.

România înregistrează o creștere semnificativă a importurilor de deșeuri plastice, în special din state vest-europene. Volumele mai mari și prețurile competitive afectează direct reciclarea internă, unde operatorii locali se confruntă deja cu costuri ridicate și cerere instabilă.

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.

Câștigătorii Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2025 au fost anunțați la Amsterdam, evidențiind proiecte concrete de integrare a plasticului reciclat în automotive, construcții și bunuri de larg consum. Tendința dominantă: utilizarea tot mai avansată a materialelor PCR în aplicații industriale cu cerințe tehnice ridicate.

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.

Un nou document de ghidaj publicat astăzi clarifică una dintre cele mai importante prevederi ale viitorului regulament european privind ambalajele (PPWR): începând cu 12 august 2026, toate ambalajele introduse pe piața UE trebuie să fie reciclabile. Clarificările vin într-un moment critic pentru industrie, în care producătorii, convertorii și reciclatori trebuie să-și ajusteze rapid strategiile tehnologice și comerciale.

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

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 sharp increase in virgin polymer prices in March 2026 is now directly impacting the recycled materials market. Recyclates are becoming more expensive, while strengthening their strategic role in the supply chain, driven by regulatory pressure and rising production costs.

Rezultatele prezentate la Resource Recovery Summit 2026 confirmă o evoluție accelerată a sistemului SGR din România, care ajunge la 83% rată de colectare în 2025 și peste 8,5 miliarde de ambalaje returnate. Performanța poziționează România printre piețele relevante din Europa în zona de colectare a ambalajelor.

• 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

• Filmele flexibile din plastic (PE, PP) reprezintă una dintre cele mai mari provocări ale reciclării ambalajelor în Europa.
• Noul regulament european PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) va accelera investițiile în reciclarea acestor materiale.
• Raportul AMI Plastics arată că piața reciclării filmelor flexibile va crește semnificativ în următorii ani.
• Proiecte industriale noi sunt așteptate în Europa până în 2030 pentru a crește capacitatea de reciclare.

• petrolul depășește pragul de 100 $/baril
• costurile feedstock-urilor petrochimice cresc
• tensiunile geopolitice afectează lanțurile logistice
• presiune în creștere asupra prețurilor polimerilor virgini
• materialele reciclate devin tot mai competitive

Sistemul DRS depășește pragul de 1 miliard de ambalaje colectate

Automotive recycling industry gathers at IARC 2026

Oil volatility begins to reshape polymer market dynamics

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

Summit european dedicat economiei circulare

European circular economy summit announced in Romania

Deposit return system becomes mandatory in Hungary

Italy delays Plastic Tax

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 plastics industry this week

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.

Plant closures and financial pressure hit North American recycling sector amid falling PET bale prices

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.

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.

The Plastics Recycling Conference 2026, scheduled for February 23–25 in San Diego (USA), brings into focus key industry themes including mandatory recycled content (PCR), chemical recycling, the expansion of EPR systems, and solutions for hard-to-recycle plastic streams.

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.

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.

The latest edition of “Plastics – The Fast Facts 2025”, published by PlasticsEurope, confirms a major structural shift in the global plastics industry: Asia now accounts for more than half of global production, while Europe’s share continues to decline.

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.

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.

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.

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.

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and Envetec Sustainable Solutions have presented a closed-loop recycling model for plastics generated in laboratories and healthcare facilities.
The solution focuses on controlled collection, decontamination and recycling, aiming to reduce incineration of technically recyclable materials.
The case shows that circular economy solutions can work even in sectors with strict safety and traceability requirements.

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 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.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, OMV’s CEO warned that excessively rigid plastic recycling regulations risk slowing down innovation and industrial investment if they are not supported by proper infrastructure and economic incentives.

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.

With an estimated 94% collection rate for beverage packaging, Romania has rapidly reached performance levels comparable to long-established Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) in several EU member states. The key difference is not efficiency, but system maturity and downstream recycling capacity.

România se află din nou sub presiunea Comisiei Europene din cauza întârzierilor semnificative în atingerea țintelor de reciclare a ambalajelor. Deficiențele structurale din sistemul de colectare, lipsa capacităților de reciclare și implementarea neuniformă a responsabilității extinse a producătorului (EPR) riscă să atragă sancțiuni financiare consistente.

Equipment manufacturers are accelerating the development of optical sorting systems designed specifically for contaminated plastic films—one of the most challenging fractions in waste streams. The new solutions promise higher yields and more consistent recyclable output.

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.

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.

Despite having an advanced collection and sorting system, Germany is struggling to meet the European Union’s targets for plastic packaging recycling, highlighting structural limitations of the current European model.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty ended 2025 without an agreement, as deep divisions persist over plastic production limits and chemical regulation. The absence of a binding global framework is pushing governments and companies toward regional regulations and voluntary industry initiatives.

Italian packaging consortia report increasing difficulties in absorbing recycled materials, amid weak demand and rising stock levels.

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.

In Q4 2025, the price gap between recycled plastics (rPCR) and virgin polymers remains unfavorable for recycling, driven by weak demand and the strong competitiveness of virgin material.

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 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.

The European Commission has published the 2025 guidance introducing a unified framework for documenting and verifying the traceability of recycled plastics across the EU.

Toyota Motor Corporation will invest €120 million to scale up production lines using recycled plastic materials, reinforcing its long-term commitment to low-carbon automotive manufacturing.

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.

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 has released the final version of the PPWR 2026 proposal, introducing stricter rules on packaging reduction, recyclability, and reuse targets across the EU market.

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.

În primele zece luni ale anului 2025, românii au returnat aproximativ 4,5 miliarde de ambalaje prin sistemul SGR, iar RetuRO a predat către reciclatori peste 320.000 de tone de materiale (PET, sticlă, metal). Sistemul se apropie de pragul de 8 miliarde de ambalaje returnate.

Voucher for Beverage Cartons: Tetra Pak and Mega Image Launch a Unique Pilot Project in Europe

Raportul OCDE privind progresul României pune accent pe digitalizarea fluxurilor de deșeuri, consolidarea sistemelor de colectare și accelerarea tranziției către materii prime circulare. Documentul evidențiază nevoia unor investiții consistente în infrastructură și a unor politici coerente pentru ambalaje, hârtie și carton, cu rol major în atingerea țintelor europene.

Administrația Fondului pentru Mediu a lansat noul ghid de finanțare destinat investițiilor în infrastructura de reciclare, incluzând echipamente pentru sortare, măcinare, spălare și extrudare a maselor plastice.

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

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.

A regional analysis shows that Slovakia, Czechia and Slovenia outperform all other CEE countries in packaging recycling rates.

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.

MOL Group increases its recycling capacity in Hungary with a new PP and PE reprocessing line at Tiszaújváros.

Constructorul auto Dacia anunță că noua generație a modelului electric Spring va include peste 30% materiale plastice reciclate, în special pentru componente interioare și piese tehnice, consolidând angajamentul mărcii față de sustenabilitate.

🇪🇺 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.

Global demand for recycled plastics has slowed down in 2025, especially in cost-sensitive sectors, yet analysts project a market value of USD 133 billion by 2035 driven by sustainability targets and stricter circular economy regulations.

Mercedes-Benz has announced a new family of polypropylene compounds containing up to 50% recycled material, designed for use in structural and interior components of future electric vehicles.

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.

Evenimentul “CS Week 2025” aduce în prim-plan arta și designul bazate pe materiale reciclate: plastic, metal, hârtie și textile.

Mercedes-Benz has announced a new family of polypropylene compounds containing up to 50% recycled material, designed for use in structural and interior components of future electric vehicles.

A new industrial partnership strengthens Serbia’s recycling capacity for polypropylene (PP) regranulate, targeting export markets in Central Europe.

The leading European green technology fair highlights breakthrough innovations in thermal recovery, chemical recycling, and AI-based sorting.

The European recycled polystyrene (rPS) sector is experiencing robust growth, driven by strong demand from the insulation and packaging industries.

Grupul Teraplast Bistrița își extinde linia de reciclare a deșeurilor de PVC rigid, cu o investiție de 8 milioane de euro, finanțată parțial prin PNRR.