Plastics

The recycling of complex and composite plastic materials is one of the main challenges of today’s circular economy. Their presence is increasingly common in strategic sectors such as automotive, renewable energy, and aerospace, where they offer lightness, strength, and versatility.

Europe’s plastics recycling industry is entering its sharpest decline — with turnover down 5.5% — putting at risk Europe’s circular economy, industrial resilience and thousands of local jobs.

The European Union remains largely on track to achieve its 2030 targets to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest annual check-up on EU progress to its energy and climate targets published by the European Environment Agency today. Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the EU fell by a further 2.5% in 2024, according to estimated figures included in the ‘Trends and projections’ report.

At the K 2025 trade fair, Lindner introduced Flexloop, a new mechanical recycling technology developed in cooperation with Procter & Gamble. The process is based on solvent-assisted extraction and is designed to remove impurities such as non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), odours, adhesives and printing inks from polymer chains.

A research project by ETH Zurich in cooperation with BASF SE has examined a new recycling pathway for mixed plastic waste from end-of-life vehicles. The study explored the joint recycling of automotive shredder residue and biomass through gasification.

Regulators, producers and brand owners were called on to “step up” their commitments to plastic recycling and a circular economy at the BIR’s World Recycling Convention in Bangkok.

KVZ Hintermayr specialises in recycling materials that others often find challenging, such as pressed big bags, polystyrene and yoghurt tubs. To maintain an extremely high level of flexibility and quality, the shredding technology must process the different plastics efficiently and reliably.

In early August 2025, the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) officially accredited PlastCert, a division of RIGK GmbH, in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 for the certification programmes “RecyClass Recycling Process” and “RecyClass Recycled Plastic Traceability”.

Nextloopp Americas has announced that Mexican-based Alcamare International Grouphas joined the project to participate in its mission to close the loop on food-grade polypropylene.

Pure Loop developed DynaShape as an intelligent automation solution for the ISEC evo recycling machine to optimise settings on its own and maintain a consistent recycling process even when the feed material changes.

New figures published today in Plastics the Fast Facts 2025 confirm the rapid and continuing decline in the competitiveness of European plastics manufacturing.