The European research and innovation project PACE has launched a flagship initiative to demonstrate the industrial-scale production of bio-based chemicals from potato juice.

Residual waste sorting is becoming an increasingly important element of modern resource management.

The RE-CELL research project is developing structural batteries from recycled carbon fibre for use in the aviation industry.

According to Eurostat, environmental tax revenues in the EU amounted to 371.9 billion euros in 2024.

World crude steel production for the 70 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) was 155.7 million tonnes (Mt) in June 2026, a 1.7% increase compared to June 2025.

Comstock Metals will recycle manufacturing byproducts from Illuminate USA's Ohio solar panel plant under a new zero-landfill service agreement.

In its report "Scaling circular business models in Europe", the European Environment Agency (EEA) makes it clear that the circular economy in Europe is structurally underdeveloped despite political support and increasing investment in Europe.

Avery Dennison's AD CleanFlake RFID tags have received RecyClass Technology Approval in Europe, confirming their compatibility with mechanical PET bottle recycling streams. The approval complements the product's existing APR Design Recognition in North America.

Digital technologies are a key driver of a functioning circular economy.

The rising demand for critical raw materials presents Europe with new challenges in supplying its industry. Consequently, in addition to new mining projects, previously underutilized sources are increasingly coming into focus.

The United States recovered at least 5.1 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic for recycling in 2024.

Europe is looking for ways to break away from fossil dependency. In doing so, the continent overlooks a domestic raw material: waste. Waste containing plastic and biomass contains a lot of carbon. Industry urgently needs this element in order to produce without climate-damaging substances.

The ETH-Soil project is supporting the development of sustainable fertiliser production in Ethiopia through the use of biochar-based fertilisers.

Thailand is expanding cooperation between government and industry to support its Thailand net zero 2050 target.

Renewable carbon is considered a key to freeing the plastics and chemical industries from fossil raw materials. At the same time, it forms an important basis for the future of the recycling industry. Current EU regulations set hurdles for bio-based raw materials, for the use of CO₂ and for new recycling methods. The Renewable Carbon Initiative's analysis "Policy barriers for renewable carbon uptake" shows where regulatory regulations are slowing down investment.

The Renewable Materials Conference 2026 will take place from 22 to 24 September 2026 in Siegburg near Cologne, Germany, with additional online participation available.

The steel industry is one of the world's largest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases. In addition to new production processes and a climate-friendly energy supply, the circular economy in particular offers great opportunities for reducing emissions. The study "Circular Economy can substantially reduce EU steel supply chain emissions: A quality-focused circularity assessment" by Dutch and Spanish scientists shows that material efficiency, longer product lifespans and high-quality recycling could significantly reduce the demand for steel in Europe and massively increase the share of secondary steel. It is not only the amount of available scrap that is decisive, but above all its quality. The study was published in "Resources, Conservation & Recycling".

Incorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries are creating an increasing fire risk for Europe's waste management and recycling sector.

The European research project REWIND has recovered more than 20 square metres of decommissioned wind turbine blade sections for reuse in industrial applications.

The discussion paper "A post-2030 climate policy framework fit for reaching the EU climate targets" by the German Environment Agency shows that the European climate protection architecture after 2030 must be made much more precise, coherent and resilient in order to actually achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.