Michael Brunn

The European Commission has fined 15 major car manufacturers and the European Automobiles Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) a total of around €458 million for participating in a long-lasting cartel concerning end-of-life vehicle recycling. Mercedes-Benz was not fined, as it revealed the cartel to the Commission under the leniency programme. All companies admitted their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case.

In the US and the UK, similar legislative movements are underway, with governments pushing for a circular battery economy to mitigate the environmental impact of electric vehicle waste.

Ecobat has announced the successful commissioning of three lithium-ion battery recycling facilities within just one year. Located in Hettstedt, Germany; Casa Grande, Arizona; and Darlaston, England, these facilities are now fully operational. Together, the three plants are capable of processing up to 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries annually, with plans to scale capacity to 25,000 tons.

New regulations and government incentives drive major steelmakers to reduce emissions, complemented by pressure from automotive and construction customers, corporate sustainability commitments, technological innovations in production, and developing clean energy infrastructure. These forces collectively create an emerging market for green steel, with IDTechEx forecasting hydrogen-based green steel production to reach 46 million tonnes by 2035.

By 19 April, the European Commission will adopt its first Working Plan to implement the new EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). It will confirm which products will be addressed first before developing performance requirements to improve their environmental sustainability - including measures on durability and repair. The Working Plan will supplement other ongoing work on ESPR implementation, such as a ban on the destruction of unsold goods. What can we expect and when?

"Many of this year's shortlisted entries showcase innovations in plastics recycling that, just eight years ago, would have been considered unattainable," said Ton Emans, Plastics Recyclers Europe's President. "This demonstrates just how far the industry has progressed since the inception of these awards and underscores the critical value that plastic recycling plays for the future of European industry."

Food tops the bill as the best performer, according to British shoppers, some way ahead of household products in second place. Clothing ranks third, but only among 13% of those surveyed, with cosmetics and fashion accessories scoring very poorly for planet friendly packaging performance.

Packaging machines play a vital role in recycling, and their operation can be broken down into two main components. The first part is customer-facing, where users can deposit their empty packaging through an opening. Once placed, the machine scans the packaging and transports it via a conveyor system; often a conveyor belt. The scanning technology identifies the type of packaging and calculates the deposit the customer will receive. After entering their items, the customer can press a button to retrieve a receipt for their deposit. Additionally, they have the option to donate their deposit to charity.

Conducted by the independent ToxicoWatch Foundation with support from Zero Waste Europe, the findings show that the areas around Waste-to-Energy (WtE) facilities are contaminated, posing risks to public health, ecosystems, and food safety.

The study was conducted for VinylPlus Healthcare, a new platform set up in response to the growing need for clear and fact-based communication about vinyl's role in healthcare.