Michael Brunn

As part of the APEX/IFSA Global Expo 2025, both organisations want to show how disused workwear - especially from the aviation industry - can be recycled and converted into functional building products.

Regulatory uncertainty, multi-material compositions, limited collection rates and a competitive landscape pose significant challenges for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tray recycling in Europe, but the industry is working to make it a reality, albeit at a slower pace than some would like.

To inform policy development and infrastructure planning the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) has estimated the volume of thermoset composites waste accessible for recycling. This data will also support the activities of the new European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA).

Four years on, a revisit to the Italian wood panel specialist Fantoni reveals how a partnership with Steinert enabled a new global benchmark: furniture-grade MDF with over 70% recycled content in its core.

Starlinger and its customers already received a total of 120 "Positive Opinions" under the previous Regulation EU 282/2008. The positive assessment of the PET bottle-to-bottle recycling process on the "recoSTAR PET art" system is the first positive Scientific Opinion under Regulation EU 2022/1616 for Starlinger.

The European Union wants to become climate-neutral by 2050. There are only five years left until the interim targets of 2030 are achieved. Therefore, it is more urgent than ever to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Otherwise, there is a risk of rising energy costs and growing dependence on third countries. The full implementation of the existing legal framework to meet the 2030 climate and energy targets is a prerequisite for the EU to stay on track to achieve the 2040 target and climate neutrality by 2050, while realising the full potential of the transition. With the current stocktaking "EU-wide assessment of the final updated national energy and climate plans. Delivering the Union's 2030 energy and climate objectives", the European Commission wants to examine whether implementation is taking place to the necessary extent.

In recent years, some measures have been introduced to better control the international trade in plastic waste. In the "Working Paper" "Monitoring trade in plastic waste and scrap 2025", the OECD examined whether these measures have had an impact so far.

Since 2018, Circle Economy has published the first "Circularity Gap Report". Since then, the indicator has only known one direction: downwards. However, this is not because less is being recycled, quite the opposite. But the consumption of primary raw materials is increasing much faster.

The European Commission is planning a law on the circular economy for the coming year. The European recycling association Euric has some ideas about what could be in it.

Building materials usually consume enormous resources and are also significantly responsible for CO₂ emissions. In order to achieve the climate targets, this must change. In its report "Brick Roadmap to Resource Efficiency", the Ifeu Institute has examined where potential lies in the production and use of bricks.