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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.

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.

Summit european dedicat economiei circulare

European circular economy summit announced in Romania

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.

Capitala României va găzdui Resource Recovery Summit 2026, un eveniment dedicat economiei circulare și reciclării. Summitul va începe în 18 martie 2026 și va reuni lideri industriali, autorități și companii implicate în sectorul gestionării resurselor și reciclării.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The European Union formally adopts End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for recycled polyethylene (rPE) and polypropylene (rPP), establishing harmonized quality standards across the EU.

Un nou proiect PNRR accelerează extinderea capacităților de reciclare PET, vizând închiderea buclei pentru ambalaje.

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.

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.

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

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.

Administrația Fondului pentru Mediu (AFM) a lansat un nou program de finanțare dedicat reciclării industriale, cu un buget total de 300 milioane euro. Programul urmărește creșterea capacității de procesare a deșeurilor și sprijinirea companiilor care investesc în tehnologii avansate de reciclare.

Sistemul Garanție-Returnare (SGR) din România urmează să includă noi tipuri de ambalaje – precum produse lactate, cosmetice și recipiente metalice speciale – începând cu prima jumătate a anului 2026.

ICIS reports a bearish R-PET market in Europe – weak demand and price declines dominate October 2025.

Coca-Cola is piloting a new packaging system that eliminates shrink-wrap film, using spot-adhesive technology and recycled cardboard handles.

Producătorii auto din România accelerează tranziția către materiale sustenabile, folosind componente din plastic reciclat în viitoarele modele.

Hungarian recycler ReMat Zrt. is expanding its recycling operations with the support of a €18 million EU Cohesion Fund investment aimed at modernizing washing and regranulation lines and boosting the country’s circular economy capacity.

EEA arată că România reutilizează doar 1,4% din materiale, față de media UE de 12%.

Administrația Fondului pentru Mediu (AFM) a aprobat o listă de 26 de proiecte care vor beneficia de finanțare prin PNRR, cu scopul de a crea noi capacități de reciclare pentru deșeuri de ambalaje, inclusiv mase plastice. Bugetul total al apelului depășește 280 mil. lei.

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.

Stronger control over waste and secondary material imports from non-EU countries.

Doar 1% din poliesterul utilizat în producția globală de textile este reciclat înapoi în fibre textile. Restul ajunge incinerat, la groapa de gunoi sau este transformat în produse inferioare calitativ. Raportul publicat de SGS evidențiază nevoia urgentă de infrastructură, tehnologii chimice performante și design circular pentru a închide bucla de reciclare a poliesterului.

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.

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 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.

Shangyi Environmental Technology, a Chinese leader in advanced recycling machinery and intelligent sorting systems, is attending K2025 Düsseldorf, the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics and recycling industries.

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.

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.

Beverage producers across the EU report a shortage of high-quality r-PET.

Romanian Competition Council is assessing a new M&A deal in the sustainable packaging market.

Continental is advancing circular economy solutions by incorporating renewable and recycled materials in its tyres.

The global POM market is expected to grow steadily, driven by the automotive and E&E sectors, with increasing attention to recycled and special grades.

oca-Cola anunță o investiție masivă pentru creșterea utilizării plasticului reciclat.

China a înregistrat o creștere de 40% a producției de bioplastice în ultimul an.

The global recycled HDPE market is projected to expand by 7% each year until 2030.

O companie românească investește într-o fabrică de reciclare PET cu o capacitate de 30.000 t/an.

Volkswagen Group announced new €4 billion investments in battery cell manufacturing facilities located in Tennessee (USA) and Salzgitter (Germany), aiming to double production capacity for EVs by 2030.

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.

Unilever vizează neutralitatea în utilizarea plasticului până în 2035.

The American energy and petrochemical giant highlights significant progress in advanced recycling and the use of alternative feedstocks.

A 6-a rundă de negocieri nu a livrat un acord. Peste 100 de țări susțin plafoane de producție; marii producători presează pentru focus pe gestionarea deșeurilor.

Începând cu 1 septembrie 2025, South Australia va interzice mai multe articole din plastic de unică folosință.

Innovation in circular economy – bioplastics made from straw and crop residues.
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Eurostat raportează că România a folosit în 2023 doar 1,3% materiale circulare în economie, cea mai mică rată din Uniunea Europeană, mult sub media de peste 12%.

Un nou raport al Centrului Comun de Cercetare (JRC) al Comisiei Europene arată că UE se confruntă cu pierderi semnificative pe lanțul valoric al plasticului și cu o rată redusă de circularitate, ceea ce impune măsuri urgente de reglementare și investiții.

Negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty will resume in Geneva on 5–14 August 2025 (INC-5.2), aiming to break the deadlock from INC-5 in Busan, South Korea (December 2024).