Michael Brunn

The transformation to a climate-neutral industry is increasing the pressure on energy-intensive sectors such as steel, aluminum, cement and plastics. At the same time, the importance of the circular economy is increasing as it reduces emissions, reduces resource dependencies and strengthens economic resilience. The JRC study "Capturing the Potential of the Circular Economy Transition in Energy-Intensive Industries" shows what additional decarbonisation potential can be unlocked through circular measures and what political framework conditions are necessary for this.

The transformation of the European cement and concrete sector towards a circular economy offers significant potential for reducing emissions, reducing raw material and energy consumption and strengthening the EU's strategic autonomy. The report "Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of the Circular Economy Transition in the EU Cement and Concrete Sector" by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) shows how technical, normative and policy innovations must work together to successfully shape the circular transformation of this resource-intensive sector.

Global construction activity is one of the central drivers of global resource consumption and the associ-ated greenhouse gas emissions. While the international community has formulated the goal of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius with the Paris Climate Agreement, the CO₂ footprint of the construction sector has been rising dynamically for decades. The discrepancy between political ambi-tion and real development could become a crucial bottleneck in the coming decades. The study "Carbon footprint of the construction sector is projected to double by 2050 globally" by scientists from China, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria shows that the sector alone could be sufficient to consume the remaining CO₂ budget for the 1.5 degree target, even if other industries were fully decarbonised. The study was published in "Communications Earth & Environment".

The 2026 edition focused on the theme "Don't Think Waste - Think Opportunity", highlighting the role of waste as a secondary raw material and its economic relevance within circular value chains. Participants were required to submit short video presentations outlining their projects and their contribution to resource recovery and sustainable waste management.

Dieffenbacher presents recycling and energy solutions at IFAT 2026, focusing on fiberboard recycling, waste wood processing, Waste2Product and sustainable energy generation.

Recovered Paper Conference Berlin brings industry experts together to discuss market trends, digitalisation, and quality standards in paper recycling.

Capacity and operational profileRG Group has been active since 2019 and generated a turnover of around EUR 20 million in 2025. The company employs approximately 50 people. Its facilities currently process more than 20,000 tonnes per year of LDPE film, with the potential to increase capacity to over 35,000 tonnes annually. The acquisition strengthens GreenDot's position in the recycling of commercial and industrial polyethylene films.

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.

Austropresses are designed for continuous industrial use. They process heterogeneous material flows into dimensionally stable bales with high density. The technical design is based on resilient mechanical components, high pressing forces and automated control systems that enable stable plant availability./h

Google and AMP Robotics expand biochar carbon removal in waste management, targeting methane reduction and circular use of municipal solid waste.