Behind the rhetoric of "simplification" for "competitiveness" lies a deregulatory agenda: a tsunami of Omnibus packages to cut rules for certain businesses, hailed as an €8 billion saving. Yet the Commission's own review shows that failing to implement existing EU environmental law already costs €180 billion every year.
The European Parliament's plenary vote on its position on the proposed End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) marks an important step in advancing the circularity of the automotive sector. However, FEAD warns that certain requirements risk undermining the Regulation's ability to deliver on its objectives.
Today the European Parliament voted on two crucial laws: one to tackle food and textile waste, and another to reduce the environmental footprint of vehicles from design to disposal.
Current recycling processes are inadequate for removing these odorous substances, which have migrated into the material during the product's life cycle. A multi-stage treatment is required to eliminate these odours sufficiently, allowing the pellets to be processed into high-quality end products for applications in industries such as packaging, automotive, and consumer goods.
But the impact goes beyond recycling. In 2023, European plastics production dropped by 8.3%, while the global market share has shrunk from 22% in 2006 to 12% today. This is not only a threat to the competitiveness of Europe's industry, but also its ability to meet circular economy and climate goals.
Olatz has over six years of professional experience working in close contact with the European institutions, with a special focus on policy analysis, legal research and strategic advocacy.
Incorporating new undercarriage, arm and boom, elevating cab and counterweight designs, the new DX270WMH-7 is built to offer next level performance for the toughest tasks across a wide range of material sorting and handling applications. The latter include the handling of scrap metal and other solid waste, as well as those in recycling, demolition and the timber industry.
This is leading to a decrease in production and recycling capacity, compromising the survival of this strategic sector.
Metal recycling is central to resource security and climate neutrality. To support operators, recycling professionals and decision-makers with knowledge worldwide, Steinert is launching the Metal Recycling Keynote. This new 45-minute online format provides concise, structured insight into three essential technology areas as ZORBA, Aluminium and Steel scrap.
The report explores the economic impact on the UK scrap steel sector as the steel industry transitions to low-carbon electric arc furnaces (EAF), which is set to significantly increase domestic demand for British scrap steel. It finds that an export ban to non-OECD countries would lead to nearly £5bn lost in GVA and costing over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
A third-generation family business and Kiverco customer for over 20 years, Binn Group shares a deep commitment to innovation and sustainability. Their trust in Kiverco was reinforced more than a decade ago when a fire at their site damaged the waste plant.
As part of the HYDREAMS project, Swiss Steel Group is taking a crucial step in this direction. The project, funded by the European Union in April 2023, aims to explore how the steel industry can transition from natural gas to clean hydrogen, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. The project focuses on two types of furnaces (reheating and annealing) and two burner types (impulse and flat flame systems) to test hydrogen combustion's efficiency in steel production.
Revomet Bitterfeld GmbH operates one of Europe's most advanced facilities for recycling of battery scrap from the battery industry in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The partnership's goal is to recover valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium in the highest purity and return them to the production cycle.
This contains significant quantities of valuable metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, and stainless steel. To keep these valuable resources in circulation, MDSU has invested in a state-of-the-art facility with X-ray technology and is now setting new standards.
"We are pleased to announce the sale of our German and Austrian operations," said Tom Slabe, President and CEO of Ecobat. "Upon completion, this transaction - along with the previously announced divestitures of France, Italy, and Battery Distribution - will enable Ecobat to concentrate its efforts on core recycling operations, as well as our global lithium-ion battery business. Ecobat will continue to pursue additional opportunities to maximize value for shareholders beyond these transactions."
At the same time, the EU's GDP increased by 1.2% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same quarter of 2024.
Following a pilot phase initiated last year, Ecophon is operating Sound Circularity Reuse in Sweden. Contributing to the company's circular offer, the initiative aims to reduce the carbon footprint and resource usage of acoustic products.
At K 2022, Brüggemann presented three new additives for improved stabilization of polyolefin recyclates. These additives are said to result in recyclates with good mechanical and processing properties. All grades are supplied as dust-free additive blends in compacted granule form.
In 2021, the EU expenditure on environmental protection amounted to €292 billion. Rising on average by over 3% each year, the expenditure on environmental protection increased by 54% since 2006.
At IFAT, Netzsch is presenting a new system for its progressing cavity pumps: XLC-Select is designed to automatically adjust the pump's stator, reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent.
