Europe's largest plastics recycling event
The Europe's largest event dedicated to plastics recycling, the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE), took place this week at RAI Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from April 1-2. Visit the website at: www.prseventeurope.com
The PRS Europe exhibition and conference attracts thousands of professional stakeholders from the whole plastics recycling value chain across Europe and beyond. The event will take place in the RAI’s premier Halls 1 and 5, having grown this year to accommodate a record 500 exhibiting companies and organisations.
The two-day conference features more than 65 expert speakers examining in-depth all the latest political, legislative, market and technological developments in plastics recycling.
The PRS Europe exhibition and conference attracts thousands of professional stakeholders from the whole plastics recycling value chain across Europe and beyond. The event will take place in the RAI’s premier Halls 1 and 5, having grown this year to accommodate a record 500 exhibiting companies and organisations.
The two-day conference features more than 65 expert speakers examining in-depth all the latest political, legislative, market and technological developments in plastics recycling.
PPWR entered into force
The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) was published in the EU Official Journal on January 22, 2025, and entered into force on February 11, 2025.
The regulation will apply from August 12, 2026, providing an 18-month transition period for businesses to comply.
To read the respective EU Document 32025R0040, follow here.
To read the respective EU Document 32025R0040, follow here.
Bioplastics exhibition calendar
Don't miss the main coming exhibitions and events in EU bioplastics industry.
April 2025
June 2025
April 2025
June 2025
EU Parliament votes to freeze sustainability rules
BRUSSELS, April 3 2025
Discouraging news came from Brussels...
On April 3, 2025, the European Parliament voted to postpone reporting requirements for small and mid-sized businesses. Originally set to take effect in 2026, new regulations will now roll out in 2027, with first reports due in 2028.
The European Commission in February proposed legal changes it named the "Simplification Omnibus" that would exempt thousands of smaller European businesses from EU sustainability reporting rules.
The reason? Lawmakers want to ease the burden on businesses struggling with compliance.
However, critics warn that delaying these rules could weaken corporate accountability and disrupt regulatory stability. The EU’s supply chain law has also been pushed back by a year, giving businesses extra time to adapt.
The drive to simplify has drawn criticism from many investors, left-leaning lawmakers and campaigners, who said the first wave of omnibus proposals would gut corporate accountability and that such swift changes to recently agreed laws created an unstable environment.
Discouraging news came from Brussels...
On April 3, 2025, the European Parliament voted to postpone reporting requirements for small and mid-sized businesses. Originally set to take effect in 2026, new regulations will now roll out in 2027, with first reports due in 2028.
The European Commission in February proposed legal changes it named the "Simplification Omnibus" that would exempt thousands of smaller European businesses from EU sustainability reporting rules.
The reason? Lawmakers want to ease the burden on businesses struggling with compliance.
However, critics warn that delaying these rules could weaken corporate accountability and disrupt regulatory stability. The EU’s supply chain law has also been pushed back by a year, giving businesses extra time to adapt.
The drive to simplify has drawn criticism from many investors, left-leaning lawmakers and campaigners, who said the first wave of omnibus proposals would gut corporate accountability and that such swift changes to recently agreed laws created an unstable environment.
2025 SDG Index Report
Here are the Top-10 SDG countries in EU:
#1 Finland (81.1)
#2 Denmark (79.7)
#3 Sweden (79.4)
#4 Austria (77.3)
#5 Norway (76.2)
#6 Germany (75.0)
#7 France (73.9)
#8 Slovenia (73.8)
#9 Czechia (73.7)
#10 Iceland (73.4)
#1 Finland (81.1)
#2 Denmark (79.7)
#3 Sweden (79.4)
#4 Austria (77.3)
#5 Norway (76.2)
#6 Germany (75.0)
#7 France (73.9)
#8 Slovenia (73.8)
#9 Czechia (73.7)
#10 Iceland (73.4)
The full report, performance of European countries, other indexes, and graphs you may find here.
EU starts surveying imports of certain ethylene, ammonia products
The EU Commission has started monitoring the import volumes of certain ethylene and ammonia products, which are mainly used for fertiliser production and industrial applications.
The information gathered will allow the Commission to react quickly to level the playing field if the monitoring points to a surge of imports causing or threatening to cause injury to the EU industry.
This surveillance has been put in place in response to evidence of a significant and potentially injurious increase in the EU market share of imports of the chemicals. This increase appears to be the result of production overcapacity, notably in China, as well as the imposition of trade defence measures on imports of the products by a growing number of countries.
Read all details in official press release here.
The information gathered will allow the Commission to react quickly to level the playing field if the monitoring points to a surge of imports causing or threatening to cause injury to the EU industry.
This surveillance has been put in place in response to evidence of a significant and potentially injurious increase in the EU market share of imports of the chemicals. This increase appears to be the result of production overcapacity, notably in China, as well as the imposition of trade defence measures on imports of the products by a growing number of countries.
Read all details in official press release here.
Borealis Once Again Tops the European Patent Index 2024 in Austria
- Borealis once again ranked as the top Austrian innovator in the European Patent Index 2024, building on a long history of ranking among the top innovators in the annual index.
- In 2024, Borealis filed 121 new priority patent applications.
- Borealis holds an extensive patent portfolio, comprising around 12,300 patents in total.
In recent years the majority of patent application filings has been in the following areas:
Shell considers selling US, Europe chemical business, expanding China JV
Shell plc is considering selling its chemicals assets in Europe and the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported March 2, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The energy group has hired Morgan Stanley to conduct a strategic review of its chemicals operations
The energy group has hired Morgan Stanley to conduct a strategic review of its chemicals operations
Recycling plant closures accelerate across Europe
Plastics Recyclers Europe says the continent’s industry is at a breaking point
March 2025:
The European Union’s plastic recycling industry is at a breaking point, PRE said in a statement.
A sharp decline in domestic production, increased imports, and rising economic pressures are forcing company closures.
The total capacity of facilities that shut down in 2024 doubled compared to 2023, and the situation is intensifying in 2025, impacting both small and large companies alike, PRE added.
Today, imports of both recycled and virgin polymers account for over 20% of EU polymer consumption, while domestic recycling production has declined by 5% for most polymers.
Data from Plastics Europe shows that 2023 marked drop in European plastics manufacturing and a decline in mechanically recycled plastics production for the first time.
EU plastic production is projected to regress to levels last seen in the year 2000, even as polymer consumption continues to grow.
At the same time, European exports of plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) continues to rise. Plastic waste exports from the EU surged by a staggering 36% in 2024 compared to 2022.
These trends have resulted in the slowest plastic recycling capacity growth recorded in years. Following the trend from 2022, growth in installed plastic recycling capacity continued to slow down in 2023 to 6% year-on-year. The previous year the growth rate stood at 10%, down from 17% in 2021.
Total installed recycling capacity reached 13.2 million tonnes, up from 12.5 million tonnes in 2022. PRE estimates Europe’s installed chemical recycling capacity at 150,000 tonnes, with pyrolysis being the dominant technology.
The European Union’s plastic recycling industry is at a breaking point, PRE said in a statement.
A sharp decline in domestic production, increased imports, and rising economic pressures are forcing company closures.
The total capacity of facilities that shut down in 2024 doubled compared to 2023, and the situation is intensifying in 2025, impacting both small and large companies alike, PRE added.
Today, imports of both recycled and virgin polymers account for over 20% of EU polymer consumption, while domestic recycling production has declined by 5% for most polymers.
Data from Plastics Europe shows that 2023 marked drop in European plastics manufacturing and a decline in mechanically recycled plastics production for the first time.
EU plastic production is projected to regress to levels last seen in the year 2000, even as polymer consumption continues to grow.
At the same time, European exports of plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) continues to rise. Plastic waste exports from the EU surged by a staggering 36% in 2024 compared to 2022.
These trends have resulted in the slowest plastic recycling capacity growth recorded in years. Following the trend from 2022, growth in installed plastic recycling capacity continued to slow down in 2023 to 6% year-on-year. The previous year the growth rate stood at 10%, down from 17% in 2021.
Total installed recycling capacity reached 13.2 million tonnes, up from 12.5 million tonnes in 2022. PRE estimates Europe’s installed chemical recycling capacity at 150,000 tonnes, with pyrolysis being the dominant technology.
How a Zero-Waste Future Might Look Like
Interesting article full of valuable context, including role of zero-waste strategies, adopting compostable packaging, and balancing ecological health.
Achieving a zero-waste future is not a far-fetched dream but an attainable reality. By adopting compostable packaging, supporting zero-waste businesses, and integrating sustainable practices into everyday life, we can combat the plastic crisis and restore balance to our planet. Each step we take today helps ensure cleaner oceans, healthier forests, and thriving agricultural lands for generations to come. Together, we hold the power to create a world where waste is minimized, and sustainability is at the core of everything we do.
Read a full article here.
Achieving a zero-waste future is not a far-fetched dream but an attainable reality. By adopting compostable packaging, supporting zero-waste businesses, and integrating sustainable practices into everyday life, we can combat the plastic crisis and restore balance to our planet. Each step we take today helps ensure cleaner oceans, healthier forests, and thriving agricultural lands for generations to come. Together, we hold the power to create a world where waste is minimized, and sustainability is at the core of everything we do.
Read a full article here.
New EU plastic pellet regulations
As much as 184,000 metric tons of pellets pollute the environment across Europe each year, equivalent to up to 7,300 truckloads. Just last month, a shipping collision off the English coast spilt thousands of pellets, contaminating beaches and conservation areas.
Once in the ocean, the granules linger for decades, leaching toxins and harming marine life.
A coalition of leading European environmental groups has cautiously welcomed a “landmark” agreement by lawmakers in Brussels on new rules aimed at curbing a major source of microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
The provisional deal, reached last week between the European Council and the European Parliament, introduces binding EU-wide legislation on handling plastic pellets or “nurdles,” pea-sized granules used to make plastic products. The regulation covers the entire supply chain, from production to shipping, and is expected to take effect two years after it is formally adopted.
The Rethink Plastic alliance, which includes Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency and ClientEarth, called the deal a “meaningful first step” in a joint statement, but warned that loopholes and delays would weaken its impact.
The agreement forces companies to report pellet losses resulting in adverse effects on human health or the environment, including the quantity lost, how it happened, and the cleanup measures taken in response.
Under the rules, large companies, defined as handling more than 1,500 metric tons of pellets a year, will need to obtain a third-party certificate to prove they are complying. However, smaller firms can submit a self-declaration.
Once in the ocean, the granules linger for decades, leaching toxins and harming marine life.
A coalition of leading European environmental groups has cautiously welcomed a “landmark” agreement by lawmakers in Brussels on new rules aimed at curbing a major source of microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
The provisional deal, reached last week between the European Council and the European Parliament, introduces binding EU-wide legislation on handling plastic pellets or “nurdles,” pea-sized granules used to make plastic products. The regulation covers the entire supply chain, from production to shipping, and is expected to take effect two years after it is formally adopted.
The Rethink Plastic alliance, which includes Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency and ClientEarth, called the deal a “meaningful first step” in a joint statement, but warned that loopholes and delays would weaken its impact.
The agreement forces companies to report pellet losses resulting in adverse effects on human health or the environment, including the quantity lost, how it happened, and the cleanup measures taken in response.
Under the rules, large companies, defined as handling more than 1,500 metric tons of pellets a year, will need to obtain a third-party certificate to prove they are complying. However, smaller firms can submit a self-declaration.
