Politics

The BIR expresses concern regarding the announcement made last week by European Commission Executive Vice-President for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, on the launch of preparatory work on a new trade measure targeting recycled aluminium exports from the European Union, with a formal proposal expected in spring 2026.

The European PET value chain encourages the adoption of the pr EN18120 series for design for recycling and recyclability assessment protocols for plastics packaging developed by CEN TC261/SC4/WG10 Design for Recycling (DfR) standards for plastic packaging, developed under the European Commission’s mandate.

In 2024, 12.2% of materials used in the EU came from recycled materials. The indicator, known as ‘circular material use rate’ or ‘circularity rate’, measures the contribution of recycled materials in the overall use of materials.

For Germans, Germany’s raw material security starts at the recycling center, as the IFAT Circularity Monitor, a representative YouGov survey commissioned by IFAT Munich, shows. 73% of Germans rate the circular economy as important with regard to national (raw material) security, and more than half see it as a pacesetter for new economic growth. At the same time, 83% state that they still feel poorly or only sufficiently informed about this subject.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has announced that the German government would make 60 million euros available for the international Adaptation Fund.

Today, the European Parliament formally endorsed the one-year delay of the new EU carbon price for heating and transport fuels (ETS2) proposed by EU governments. The decision, baked into the political compromise on the EU’s 2040 climate target, undermines one of Europe’s most effective short-term climate tools, environmental groups have warned.

After lengthy negotiations at the Environmental Council Meeting, national governments chose short-term political convenience over scientific integrity, environmental safety, and societal responsibility, by failing to uphold a loophole-free domestic 90% net target – the bare minimum recommended by scientists.

How recyclers will benefit from the growing demand for secondary materials during a seismic shift in the world order has been set out at the Bureau of International Recycling’s World Recycling Convention in Singapore.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), representing the global recycling industry, has taken note of the European Commission’s new proposal for a regulation aimed at protecting the EU steel industry from the impacts of global overcapacity.

A new study highlights that current UK tax policies undermine the government’s own circular economy ambitions. Researchers argue that inconsistent incentives discourage reuse and recycling while making wasteful practices cheaper.

EU lawmakers have struck a deal on new measures to tackle water pollution. While the agreement introduces stricter monitoring, environmental groups warn that existing protections are being diluted.