Despite this planned expansion, implementation timelines indicate a concentration of activity close to the regulatory deadline. Around two thirds of authorities expect to launch services in early 2027. Nearly half of them aiming for the final deadline date. At the same time, more than one fifth report that they do not expect to have kerbside plastic film recycling in place by the required date.

The training centre is scheduled to commence operations at AMTEC by the end of May 2026. It is designed to address the demand for qualified personnel, particularly machine operators and supervisors, in plastic recycling. The programme includes a 72-hour course combining theoretical content with practical training. Erema is providing an Intarema 605 TE recycling system with a throughput capacity of 50 to 100 kg per hour for training purposes, enabling instruction under industrial conditions.

European composites production decreased by around three percent in 2025. Total production volume declined to approximately 2,281 kilotonnes, compared with 2,351 kilotonnes in 2024. Although the market therefore continued to contract, the decline slowed compared with earlier forecasts.

The system addresses a long-standing challenge in plastics recycling: black plastics are often excluded from mechanical recycling because established optical sorting technologies cannot reliably detect them. The demonstrator will be presented from 18 to 19 March 2026 at SOLIDS & RECYCLING-TECHNIK in Dortmund (Exhibition Centre Dortmund, Hall 4, Stand D47).

Elastane is used in approximately 80 percent of clothing to provide stretch and comfort. It is typically added in concentrations ranging from one to five percent by weight in cotton or wool garments and up to 20 percent in polyester or polyamide garments. As a fossil-based material, elastane contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and the use of non-renewable resources. In addition, even low concentrations of elastane can interfere with established textile recycling processes. In fibre-to-fibre recycling streams for high-volume materials such as polyester and cotton, elastane can act as a contaminant, limiting recyclability and reducing the quality of secondary raw materials. As a result, many blended textiles are currently downcycled or disposed of.

The video examines the structure and core functions of the London Metal Exchange (LME), including price discovery, trading operations, risk management and hedging strategies. It also outlines the historical development of metals trading and explains how exchange-based pricing mechanisms influence physical markets. The objective is to clarify the operational framework of the LME and its relevance for companies active in secondary raw materials and metal recycling.

Container glass is a key material in the European circular economy and supports the EU's industrial and climate objectives. With more than 140 production plants across 21 Member States, the sector supplies recyclable packaging for the food, beverage, perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Glass packaging contributes significantly to European export performance, with products packed in glass accounting for an estimated €140 billion in annual EU exports.