Plastics

Newly published research indicates that the climate benefits of plastic recycling in Europe depend primarily on recycling quality rather than recycling volume.

The contamination of surface waters, groundwater and wastewater with microplastics, micropollutants
and other organic trace substances is one of the greatest challenges currently facing water and
environmental protection. These substances occur predominantly in very low concentrations below 1
μg/L, but are often characterised by high persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicological relevance.

Abandoned and discarded fishing nets are a persistent source of plastic pollution in seas and oceans. The REDES4VALUE project addresses this issue by developing processes to recover and recycle end-of-life fishing nets and convert them into secondary raw materials for industrial applications.

Norner and Orkla Home & Personal Care (OHPC) have collaborated on a project to assess the suitability of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics for use in personal care packaging. The work supports OHPC’s objective of increasing the share of recycled material in plastic packaging while maintaining product and consumer safety.

Artificial intelligence will be a central topic at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRS Europe) exhibition and conference, which will take place at RAI Amsterdam on 5 and 6 May 2026.

Since April 2024, Cirrec, part of the Faerch Group, has been operating a recycling plant in the Netherlands that processes post-consumer PET trays from household collection systems into food-grade recycled material.

A new research project is developing processes to manufacture bioplastics from agricultural residues and pruning waste generated in the Valencian Community.

Plastics Europe has appointed Rob Ingram, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe, as President of the association with effect from 1 January 2026. He succeeds Benny Mermans, Vice President Sustainability at Chevron Phillips Chemical. The organisation represents plastics manufacturers in Europe and coordinates strategic initiatives relating to circular economy, recycling and climate-neutral plastics production.

The European Commission has published a set of pilot actions to accelerate Europe’s transition to a circular economy, the so-called ‘Winter-package’, with a particular focus on plastics. While the initiative comes at a critical moment for Europe’s plastic recycling sector, it fails to include provisions to boost demand and prioritize European-made recycled content.

The European Commission has presented a first package of pilot measures to support the transition to a circular economy in the European Union, with a thematic focus on the plastics value chain.

Growing concern about plastic waste management and the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels has driven the development of bioplastics, whose global production capacity will reach 5.7 million tonnes in 2029, according to the European Bioplastics association.