07.07-10.07.2026, A Coruna (Spain)

23.06.-24.06.2026, Straßburg

15.06-19.06.2026, Austria

Technical issues with DIWASS are causing operational disruptions because market participants are unable to submit notification requests for exports to Turkey and other third countries. The European Waste Management Association (FEAD) has now issued a statement referencing feedback from the European Commission.

The foundational technical standards for the digital product passport (DPP) are in place. At the international conference DPP4EU 2026 (June 1-3, Brussels), experts are presenting the newly published European standards to a broad industry audience and discussing concrete steps toward implementation.

The Hubs4Circularity (H4C) Community of Practice has concluded its two Horizon Europe projects - H4C Europe and H4C ECoP - with a final conference held on May 27, 2026, in Brussels. Around 150 representatives from industry, policy, research, and regional administration attended the event to review results and discuss the future of the initiative.

In a joint open letter addressed to Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, a coalition of European recycling associations and companies has called on the European Commission to reconsider any potential export restrictions on recycled aluminium scrap. The letter, dated May 28, 2026, was coordinated by Recycling Europe and signed by dozens of companies and national associations from across the EU.

Herbold Meckesheim is strengthening its offering of used machinery for the plastics recycling industry. The portfolio includes granulators, shredders, pulverizers, plastcompactors, and washing line components such as friction washers and dryers. Depending on configuration and availability, many machines can be delivered at short notice.

The circular economy is considered the key to resource conservation, climate neutrality and a secure supply of raw materials to industry. But one central problem remains unsolved so far: For many metal streams, there is a lack of reliable data on quantities, qualities and actual recycling paths. The analysis "Data requirements for a successful circular economy" by the Federal Environment Agency and the Ger-man Mineral Resources Agency shows that there are considerable information gaps along the entire val-ue chain.

The United Nations' Global Environment Outlook 7 describes the environmental crises of our time with unusual clarity, assigning a key role to the circular economy. Waste, materials and material flows no longer appear as marginal issues of environmental policy, but as central lev-ers for climate, resource and biodiversity protection. The article classifies the core messages of the report and shows why high-performance material and waste systems are becoming the strategic infrastructure of a sustainable economy.