Small Aluminium Packaging Recycling: New European Alliance Targets PPWR Compliance
How a new European alliance aims to improve small aluminium packaging recycling and meet PPWR recycling-at-scale requirements.
Plastainability 2025: Europe’s Plastics Sector Confronts Strategic Challenges
Athens, November 3, 2025 – The European plastics industry gathered in Athens for Plastainability 2025, a high-level conference focused on the sector’s competitiveness, circularity and long-term sustainability. Organized under the theme of navigating change and industrial transformation, the event brought together leading representatives from European plastics and chemical associations, policymakers and experts in waste management…
Global Plastics Treaty INC-5.2: Talks Collapse Without Agreement
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), convened from August 5 to 15, 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, represented what many falsely hoped would be the final push toward a legally binding global plastics treaty to curb plastic pollution from production to disposal. Before the…
The Future of Reusable Packaging in UK Grocery Retail
Nine of the UK’s largest supermarket chains have announced a “Statement of Intent” to explore reusable packaging across physical stores and online channels. Supported by WRAP and governments from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, this initiative aims to significantly reduce single-use packaging. Coalition of Major Retailers Taking Action The partnership involves Aldi, Asda, Co‑op, Lidl…
The End of The Green Claims Directive?
The European Commission has unexpectedly stepped back from its proposed Green Claims Directive; a policy aimed at tackling misleading environmental claims made by companies. The withdrawal was announced during the final days of the current European Parliament’s term, sparking frustration among environmental groups and parts of the packaging industry who see it as a missed…
CEFLEX Assesses Recycling Tech for Flexible Packaging
A new report from the Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative outlines five advanced recycling technology categories that promise to raise the quality of recyclates and make flexible packaging more recyclable than ever before. The research aims to support EU circular economy goals, including the ambitious target of recycling 55 % of flexible packaging…
Iceland Referred to the EFTA Court Over Waste Management
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has taken legal action against Iceland by referring a long-standing case to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Court. The issue at hand is Iceland’s continued failure to align with European Economic Area (EEA) regulations concerning the disposal of animal by-products not meant for human consumption. Persistent Non-Compliance with…
Plastics Recyclers Europe: Industry at a Breaking Point
According to a recent publication by Plastics Recyclers Europe, the European plastic recycling industry is facing an unprecedented crisis. Declining domestic production, increased reliance on imports, and mounting economic pressures have forced many companies to shut down. Despite repeated warnings from industry leaders, the situation has deteriorated, threatening the entire plastic recycling value chain. …
GPAP Expands to 25 Nations in Global Plastic Battle
The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) has reached a significant milestone, now involving 25 countries and impacting more than 1.5 billion people. With the recent inclusion of Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania, GPAP has grown into the largest international program dedicated to addressing plastic pollution. A Growing Global Effort Against Plastic…
Defra Introduces New Recyclability Assessment Framework to Enhance Packaging Sustainability
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) of the UK has recently introduced a framework to evaluate and categorize the recyclability of various packaging materials, under the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) initiative. This system aims to help businesses understand how their packaging impacts recycling processes and associated costs. Recyclability Assessment Framework…
Plastics Treaty Talks Halted, Set to Resume in 2025
The Global Plastics Treaty’s negotiations under the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) have halted. While the session marked significant progress, unresolved issues indicate that further negotiations will be needed to create a comprehensive solution to the global plastic crisis. Introduction to the UN Plastics Treaty The UN Plastics Treaty is an…
BIR: Trade Restrictions Jeopardize Global Recycling Progress
The Bureau for International Recycling (BIR), representing over 30,000 companies across 73 nations, has raised concerns about the adverse effects of restrictive trade policies on recycled materials. A recent position paper, approved by the World Council of Recycling Associations in Singapore, highlights how these trade barriers undermine the recycling industry’s potential to drive sustainable practices…