News archive
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Foxway has reached a major milestone with the launch of its advanced automated warehouse system at its largest processing center in Tartu, Estonia.
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The Steinert Group is expanding its centre of excellence for near-infrared (NIR) technology at its site in Zittau, Germany. Steinert UniSort GmbH, a subsidiary specialising in NIR sensor sorting systems, has recently moved into significantly bigger premises, completing the next stage of expansion.
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The European Commission has fined 15 major car manufacturers and the European Automobiles Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) a total of around €458 million for participating in a long-lasting cartel concerning end-of-life vehicle recycling. Mercedes-Benz was not fined, as it revealed the cartel to the Commission under the leniency programme. All companies admitted their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case.
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As demand for electric vehicles soars, the environmental impact of battery production and disposal is under increasing scrutiny. The 2023 EU Battery Regulation imposes stricter sustainability targets, requiring 50% lithium recovery by 2027 and 80% by 2031. By 2031, minimum recycled content levels must reach 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, and 6% for lithium and nickel. These regulations drive manufacturers to enhance recycling efficiency and adapt to evolving sustainability standards.
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Ecobat has announced the successful commissioning of three lithium-ion battery recycling facilities within just one year. Located in Hettstedt, Germany; Casa Grande, Arizona; and Darlaston, England, these facilities are now fully operational. Together, the three plants are capable of processing up to 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries annually, with plans to scale capacity to 25,000 tons.
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Steel is vital to modern society, with diverse alloys serving critical applications. Buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles constitute 75% of global steel usage, with global demand projected to increase. However, the industry generates 7-9% of global CO2 emissions, making it a challenging but essential sector for decarbonization efforts.
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By 19 April, the European Commission will adopt its first Working Plan to implement the new EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). It will confirm which products will be addressed first before developing performance requirements to improve their environmental sustainability – including measures on durability and repair. The Working Plan will supplement other ongoing work on ESPR implementation, such as a ban on the destruction of unsold goods. What can we expect and when?
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The winners of the eighth annual Plastics Recycling Awards Europe were announced at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam. The 2025 winners exemplify the best advances in the use of recycled plastics in products, as well as the latest innovations in technology and machinery that facilitate plastics recycling.
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Clothing, fashion accessories and cosmetics are some of the worst performing product categories when it comes to consumer perceptions about how effectively they are tackling the amount and recyclability of packaging used in the UK. This is according to new research by Aquapak, which specialises in developing high performance, environmentally safe materials to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling,
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The growing volume of packaging waste has evolved into a significant global issue, with estimates showing that up to 91% of this material ends up in landfill or incinerators. This leads to underutilised resources and increased CO2 emissions. A portion of the remaining waste contaminates the environment, contributing to plastic pollution, the degradation of ecosystems, and even entering the food chain in the form of microplastics.
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Thermal utilisation
New data links waste incinerators to toxic contamination in surrounding environments
A series of new studies reveal alarming levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals in the environments surrounding waste incinerators in Spain, France, and The Netherlands.
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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.
