Recovered Paper Conference Berlin brings industry experts together to discuss market trends, digitalisation, and quality standards in paper recycling.

Google and AMP Robotics expand biochar carbon removal in waste management, targeting methane reduction and circular use of municipal solid waste.

The circular economy is at the core of the European sustainability framework. In view of current crises such as the pandemic and energy shortages, this transition is becoming even more important. Previous research has mostly focused on individual drivers such as recycling or resource efficiency. The role of digitalization and the influence of external shocks on circular processes, on the other hand, have been investigated only to a limited extent. The study "Economic, technological and environmental drivers of the circular economy in the European Union: a panel data analysis" by researchers from Romania and Spain attempts to determine the effect of economic, ecological and technological factors on the use of circular materials. The study was published in "Environmental Sciences Europe".

Ireland's DRS was designed as a fully digital system from the outset. The end-to-end IT solution provided by Sensoneo supports scheme operator Re-turn by managing product registration, container validation, transaction processing and clearing. Centralised data management enables consistent system oversight, accurate deposit handling and scalability as participation increases.

In total, the EU generated 58.2 million tonnes of food waste, which includes edible and inedible parts, indicating a slight increase of 0.7% compared with 2022 (57.8 million tonnes).

Accreditation by DAkkS ensures that PlastCert, as a certification body, meets the highest standards of competence and impartiality. It promotes ongoing quality assurance and continuous improvement of certification processes. This strengthens confidence in PlastCert's certifications among both certified companies and purchasers of certified products.

The demanding requirements for quality and quantity in waste stream separation call for new solutions to meet these challenges. One promising approach lies in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision, combined with existing technologies such as near-infrared (NIR) cameras. This article aims to introduce these technologies, explain their exponential growth, explore current applications in waste sorting, and highlight their potential for the future.