Plastics

Polykemi and Rondo Plast have invested nearly SEK 25 million over the past two years to expand their plastic recycling capacity. According to the companies, the additions increase production by around 7,500 tonnes of recycled material annually and broaden access to post-consumer recycled feedstock for engineering compounds.

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have characterized a thermophilic cutinase enzyme to better understand how biocatalysts can operate under conditions relevant to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling. The study examines how structural stability and local flexibility are balanced to maintain catalytic activity at elevated temperatures.

The European Commission has published its first report under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), based on data from Member States for 2022. The report provides a baseline for assessing progress towards binding SUP collection targets for 2025 and 2030, as well as reductions in the consumption of certain single-use plastic products and the management of fishing gear containing plastic.

Nextek and Coveris have commissioned a demonstration plant for food-grade film recycling at the ReCover site in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. The facility, developed with support from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, has entered full operation and marks the transition from development to industrial validation.

Waste plastic bale prices in Italy have jumped in the past month, while high density polyethylene (HDPE) bales sold at the Spanish Ecoembes auction have also seen a significant price increase.

Agilyx ASA has announced that its subsidiary GreenDot has completed the acquisition of the French recycler RG Group. The transaction includes two additional mechanical recycling sites for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film located in Tence and Saint-Pal-de-Mons. With this step, GreenDot establishes its first operational presence in France and expands its European activities in polyethylene film recycling.

Four out of five English local authorities that do not yet provide kerbside plastic film recycling intend to introduce the service by 31 March 2027. This is according to the latest UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey published by the RECOUP.

Erema and the Arvind Mehta Technology & Entrepreneurship Centre (AMTEC) of the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) signed a memorandum of understanding on 5 February 2026 to establish a plastic recycling training centre in Mumbai. The initiative focuses on practice-oriented training and aims to support workforce development in India’s plastics recycling sector.

A regional initiative in California establishes closed-loop stretch film recycling, enabling collection, processing and remanufacturing of stretch film within a North American supply chain.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Genesis Power & Energy Solutions Ltd have entered into a partnership to develop an rPET production facility in Nigeria. The planned plant will be located in Lagos and is designed to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of food-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin annually. Start-up of the facility is targeted for the first half of 2027.

Polymer Comply Europe has joined the industry initiative Circular Plastics Made in Europe, which promotes a stronger and more resilient European value chain for circular plastics within Europe (EU27+EFTA+UK). The initiative focuses on increasing the recycling of plastics collected in Europe and reintegrating recycled materials into European manufacturing processes.