Michael Brunn

The average EU citizen bought 19 kilograms (kg) of clothing, footwear and household textiles in 2022 — up from 17 kg in 2019, which is enough to fill a large suitcase per person each year according to the EEA briefing 'Circularity of the EU textiles value chain in numbers'. The assessment analyses the latest data available on the circularity of the EU's textile value chain. 

Dansk Emballage brings over 30 years of experience in trading new and reconditioned industrial packaging such as IBCs, drums, jerrycans, and pallets. The company collects these packages, cleans, repairs, and recycles them in an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified process. When reconditioning is not possible, the bottles from the IBCs are subjected to material recycling. The same concept applies to plastic drums and cans. The containers come from companies in the chemical and food industries throughout Scandinavia.

As the first continental Southern European country to introduce a full-scale Deposit Return Scheme, Portugal is positioning itself as an innovator in the region. While Malta, as a small island, pioneered the concept in the Mediterranean with its own DRS launch in November 2022, Portugal's implementation will serve as an influential model for larger neighbouring nations such as Spain, France, and Italy. Known as a country of explorers, Portugal once again demonstrates its forward-thinking approach by adopting a system that promotes circularity, reduces waste, and enhances recycling rates.

The state-of-the-art facility, the only dedicated fridge and SDA recycling plant in Scotland, has the capacity to process 4,000 fridges and 300 tonnes of SDA per week providing Scottish residents with the ability to sustainably recycle all their waste fridges and small electrical appliances such as kettles, toasters, vacuum cleaners, and coffee machines.

GRF introduced this award to recognise the industry leaders for their contributions, alongside its annual Recycling Heroes prize, presented to individuals and organisations for their own innovative solutions to the cause of recycling

The event will take place in the RAI's premier Halls 1 and 5, having grown this year to accommodate a record 500 exhibiting companies and organisations.

The ReadyMac 500 Heavy Duty (HD) version is equipped with an Erema Laserfilter and designed specifically for challenging materials. It will be available from 1 April 2025 at a fixed price of EUR 440,000. According to the company, it is ideal for more heavily contaminated input streams.

The aim is to reduce cost-intensive transport journeys and the associated CO2 emissions. This is achieved by shredding directly at the place where the material is produced. The single-shaft shredder is an attachment for containers, skips and L-shaped bricks. 

The BIR and EuRIC acknowledge the European Commission's publication of the European Steel and Metals Action Plan yesterday. As global and European representatives of the recycling industry, we appreciate the Commission's efforts to support the competitiveness and sustainability of Europe's metals sector.

EuRIC's manifesto highlights the unprecedented crisis facing Europe's textile collection and recycling sector, worsened by rising costs, low demand, and the impact of ultra-fast fashion. To address these and achieve textiles circularity by 2030, EuRIC Textiles calls for extending product lifecycles, increasing recycled textile fibre use, and boosting textile recycling, which is currently limited to less than 1% of materials being recycled into new clothing. To achieve a circular textiles economy by 2030, EuRIC Textiles also urges the EU to implement key measures, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, ecodesign requirements, and better education through the Digital Product Passport (DPP). The manifesto also advocates for EU End-of-Waste criteria, fair-trade practices, balanced chemicals legislation, and stricter compliance monitoring to ensure transparency and prevent greenwashing. "By creating an environment where innovation thrives and circularity is rewarded, EuRIC aims to reduce the textile sector's environmental impact, boost textile circularity in Europe, and create new economic opportunities for reuse and recycling operators. Our Textiles Manifesto outlines the steps to achieve this", said Mariska Boer, President of EuRIC's Textiles Branch.