Michael Brunn

Recycling Europe sees the decades-long success story of paper recycling at risk. According to the association, regulatory fragmentation, market imbalances and rising operational risks would increase the pres-sure on recyclers. Without clear measures, Europe risks losing ground, both in terms of circularity goals and industrial competitiveness. The association proposes four measures to counter the problems.

A collaborative project involving RadiciGroup, its research division Radici InNova, The Lycra Company and Triumph has now demonstrated a recycling route for mixed textile waste containing nylon and elastane.

The consultation will allow PET producers, converters, brand owners, recyclers, technology providers, and other stakeholders to review and contribute to the DfC framework prior to its finalization. Feedback will help ensure that the guidelines are practical, scientifically robust, and aligned with operational realities across the value chain.

During the one-week talks, environmental ministers and world leaders adopted less than half of the resolutions presented to "advance sustainable solutions for a resilient planet," primarily regarding the mining of minerals and metals, a stronger global response to wildfires, and sustainability in sports (which was the only resolution with a brief mention of single-use plastics). At the same time, countries utterly neglected important measures on environmental crime and the protection of deep-sea and karst ecosystems, among others. 

The textile industry causes considerable environmental pollution due to overproduction and short usage cycles. Although the EU will require separate collection of textiles from 2025, the actual recyclability of many products remains questionable, as blended fabrics and elements such as zippers or buttons make recycling much more difficult. The study "Assessing the Circularity Potential of Textile Flows for Future Markets in Denmark: A Study of Textile Anatomy" by Danish scientists examines how the combination of fiber composition, layers and decorative elements influences circularity using the example of the Danish market. The study was published in "Sustainable Production and Consumption".

Ten years ago, the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted. As every year, UN Environment has examined the progress made towards achieving the goals agreed there. As the "Emissions Gap Report 2025" clearly shows, the development is going in the right direction, but far too slowly.

Ideally, the service life of products should be as long as possible in order to conserve raw materials and avoid waste. One possibility is the use of used and refurbished products. However, the study "Refurbished instead of new: The second chance for smartphones" by the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communication, the Wuppertal Institute and Kantar shows that this option is not yet particularly widespread.

Electronic waste is the world's fastest-growing waste stream and poses an environmental and economic challenge. The article "Exploring the E-Waste Crisis: Strategies for Sustainable Recycling and Circular Economy Integration" by American scientists examines key challenges, technologies and policy frameworks of e-waste management and shows how circular strategies and digital innovations can enable the transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral electronics industry. The article was published in "Recycling".

The situation is not good, but it is not hopeless either. Allianz Research's "Green Transition Tracker 2025" shows that some countries are making better progress than others in achieving climate targets. Nevertheless, it is obvious that much more needs to be done overall.

The European Commission sees a strategic opportunity in the bioeconomy. It is an engine for green growth, competitiveness and resilience. It can also contribute to the decarbonisation of the economy and the EU's strategic autonomy. The new bioeconomy strategy shows what this can look like.