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Recent findings from Spanish plastics technology centre Aimplas confirm that flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl), widely used in medical devices, can be mechanically recycled up to six times without compromising its technical properties.

While prevention measures are gaining momentum, more effective efforts at national level are needed to tackle the huge problem of food waste, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report. The assessment gives an update on waste prevention measures across the EU. Preventing food waste is both urgent and necessary, given the high impacts of food waste on climate change, but also to protect biodiversity, reduce pollution and enhance food security, it says.

EuRIC’s Textiles event, held in Brussels on 27 March, brought together sorters, recyclers, manufacturers, retailers, policymakers, academics, and circularity experts to address the need for bridging the gap between policy and industry in the textile sector. The event emphasised the need for a systemic shift towards a circular economy, with a strong focus on legislative action and innovation.

In 2014, Umweltdienste Kedenburg took over a sorting plant for packaging waste on the site of a former cement works in Beckum. Ten years later, Beckum Kunststoff Recycling GmbH, a cooperation with Otto Graf GmbH, built a second plant at this site, where coal was once stored for cement production. Today, sustainable recycled plastic is produced here, making it a great example of how the circular economy transforms historical industrial sites. Klaus Kuhlenbeck, Technical Director of the facility, describes the project as an investment in the circular economy: “Our goal is clear: to sort and process plastic films to such a high level that we can create new products out of them.”

In the autumn of 2013, Harald Hoffmann together with Manuel Lindner, owner of the Lindner Group, founded Lindner Washtech. Hoffmann’s vision of designing complete solutions for processing plastics – initially under his sole leadership – led to the company becoming one of the key stakeholders in plastics recycling, and to a partnership with the Erema Group since 2023. In January 2025, Georg Krenn took on the sole management of Lindner Washtech. Harald Hoffmann remains a permanent part of the company, contributing his expertise in the role of Senior Advisor Global Sales.

Spreads of close to €600/tonne between recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) food-grade pellet (FGP) and virgin PET are seeing some brands cutting back recycled content use as cost-saving remains key in 2025.

Tomra Recycling has expanded its portfolio of advanced metals recycling with a groundbreaking AI-based solution to upgrade wrought aluminum scrap.

A new version of the recyclability methodology has been published in anticipation of upcoming legislative changes. This update ensures continuous support for the plastic value chain in the transition towards circularity.

The City of Tallinn has officially submitted its application to become a Zero Waste Candidate City with the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) Certification. This is a landmark step for both MiZA and the environmental network Zero Waste Europe, which powers MiZA, given that Tallinn is the first European capital to join the Certification.

Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry’s enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers. This is shown by a study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which highlights the measures that can make clothing rental a success.

During its General Assembly and Branch General Assemblies on 25-26 March, EURIC re-elected President Olivier François (Galloo, France) for a 3-year term. The new Presidency is supported by four Vice-Presidents: Alicia Garcia-Franco, Director General of FER (Spain); Cinzia Vezzosi, President of Assofermet (Italy); Peter Hodecek, Executive Board Member of the REON Group (Austria); and Sebastian Will, Deputy Chairman of bvse (Germany), who was also appointed as Treasurer.

Europeans are buying and discarding more clothing, footwear and other textiles than ever before, which as a result, is putting more pressure on our climate and environment, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing released today. The updated consumption data highlights the need for policymakers, industry and consumers to play their role in helping Europe shift away from the fast-fashion trend, to produce better, longer lasting quality textiles which are designed to last long, and can be reused, repaired and recycled.