Circular Economy News — Week 34

Summary about last week (34)

1. Carbios and FCC to Build UK’s First Bio-Recycling Plant for PET, Targeting 70,000 Tons Annually 🏭♻️
2. LyondellBasell Acquires Bankrupt Plastic Recycler APK, Expanding Recycling Capabilities for Hard-to-Recycle Plastics ♻️💼
3. Alpla and SEA ME Introduce First 300ml PET Refillable Bottle for Cosmetics, with Smart Data Tracking 🧴🔄
4. Newretex’s Fully Automated Textile Sorting System Enhances Recycling Efficiency, Handling 200 Tons Monthly 👚🤖
5. German Waste Incineration Plants to Join EU Emissions Trading by 2027, Leading to Significant Carbon Reduction 🌍🔥
6. Over 1,500 Objections Filed Against Fortum’s Battery Recycling Plant in Thuringia, Reflecting Community Concerns 🔋🚫
7. Germany Strengthens Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge with New Joint Declaration, Boosting Environmental Sustainability 🧪🚰

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1. Carbios and FCC to Build UK’s First Bio-Recycling Plant for PET, Targeting 70,000 Tons Annually 🏭♻️

Carbios and FCC have announced a groundbreaking partnership to construct the UK’s first bio-recycling plant for PET plastics. This facility aims to leverage enzymatic recycling technology to efficiently process waste PET and contribute significantly to a circular economy.

• Capacity: The new plant is expected to recycle 70,000 tons of PET annually, marking a significant leap in the UK’s recycling capabilities.

• Technology: Utilizing Carbios’ proprietary enzymatic recycling process, the facility will offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional recycling methods.

• Investment: This collaboration will require substantial investment, reflecting both companies’ commitment to advancing sustainable solutions.

• Environmental Impact: The bio-recycling method is projected to reduce the carbon footprint compared to conventional methods, contributing to a lower environmental impact.

This plant represents a significant step forward in the UK’s efforts to enhance plastic recycling and move towards a more sustainable future.

🔗 source

2. LyondellBasell Acquires Bankrupt Plastic Recycler APK, Expanding Recycling Capabilities for Hard-to-Recycle Plastics ♻️💼

LyondellBasell (LYB) has fully acquired the insolvent plastic recycler APK, aiming to enhance its Circular and Low Carbon Solutions portfolio. The acquisition secures APK’s advanced solvent-based recycling technology, crucial for processing hard-to-recycle plastics.

• Acquisition: LYB now owns APK, which filed for insolvency in May 2024, solidifying its commitment to innovative recycling methods.

• Investment History: LYB, alongside other investors, had previously invested €130 million in APK, demonstrating long-term strategic interest.

• Technological Integration: APK’s solvent-based technology complements LYB’s existing recycling methods, improving the processing of flexible, complex plastic waste.

• Future Goals: LYB aims to produce 2 million tons of recycled and renewable-based plastics annually by 2030, leveraging APK’s expertise.

This acquisition positions LYB as a leader in sustainable plastics recycling, with significant advancements in processing difficult plastic materials.

🔗 source

3. Alpla and SEA ME Introduce First 300ml PET Refillable Bottle for Cosmetics, with Smart Data Tracking 🧴🔄

Alpla, in partnership with SEA ME, has launched the first 300ml PET refillable bottle specifically designed for cosmetic and personal care products. This innovation includes a smart tracking system that monitors the bottle’s usage and recycling cycles.

• Product Launch: The PET refillable bottle will be available in Germany in September and Austria in October.

• Design: Available in three colors, the bottle is shatterproof and suitable for use in showers, addressing a key consumer need.

• Smart Technology: Each bottle features a 2D Data-Matrix Code, storing information on the bottle’s contents and the number of times it has been reused.

• Sustainability: This new system supports a closed-loop recycling process, significantly reducing plastic waste in the cosmetics industry.

This innovative product sets a new standard in the cosmetics industry, combining sustainability with smart technology to reduce environmental impact.

🔗 source

4. Newretex’s Fully Automated Textile Sorting System Enhances Recycling Efficiency, Handling 200 Tons Monthly 👚🤖

Newretex has unveiled a fully automated textile sorting system designed to streamline the recycling process for used clothing. The system uses advanced technology to sort textiles by material, composition, color, and structure, significantly improving recycling outcomes.

• Capacity: The system can handle 200 tons of textile waste per month, making it a major player in the European recycling landscape.

• Technology: Utilizing Near-Infrared (NIR) sensors and machine learning, the system accurately sorts textiles for recycling.

• Scalability: The system is scalable, allowing it to adapt to varying volumes of textile waste.

• Partnerships: Newretex is seeking partners to license and deploy this technology across Europe, aiming to close the loop on textile recycling.

This innovative system is a major advancement in textile recycling, promising to improve the efficiency and quality of recycled materials.

🔗 source

5. German Waste Incineration Plants to Join EU Emissions Trading by 2027, Leading to Significant Carbon Reduction 🌍🔥

The German government is planning to integrate waste incineration plants into the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) starting in 2027, ahead of EU-wide regulations. This move aims to incentivize reductions in CO2 emissions within the waste management sector.

• Timeline: The regulation will be enforced starting in 2027, allowing plants a transition period to adapt.

• Emissions Impact: The inclusion of waste incineration could potentially reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10 million tons annually.

• Economic Implications: Waste management facilities may face increased operational costs, which could lead to higher waste disposal fees.

• Government Stance: The German government is prioritizing climate action and choosing not to wait for EU-wide regulations to take effect.

This proactive step underscores Germany’s commitment to meeting its climate goals and reducing the environmental impact of waste management.

🔗 source

6. Over 1,500 Objections Filed Against Fortum’s Battery Recycling Plant in Thuringia, Reflecting Community Concerns 🔋🚫

Fortum’s planned battery recycling plant in Thuringia has faced significant public opposition, with over 1,500 objections submitted by local residents and environmental groups. The objections reflect widespread concern over potential environmental and health impacts.

• Public Opposition: 1,500 objections highlight the community’s unease about the environmental risks associated with the plant.

• Environmental Concerns: Opponents fear potential contamination and long-term ecological damage, urging stricter regulatory scrutiny.

• Regulatory Process: The objections will play a crucial role in the ongoing approval process, potentially delaying or altering the project.

• Corporate Response: Fortum has emphasized the plant’s advanced technology and commitment to safety and sustainability.

The strong public resistance underscores the need for careful consideration of environmental and health impacts in industrial projects.

🔗 source

7. Germany Strengthens Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge with New Joint Declaration, Boosting Environmental Sustainability 🧪🚰

A new joint declaration from Germany’s federal and state governments, along with industry stakeholders, aims to strengthen phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge, ensuring sustainable management of this vital resource.

• Signatories: The agreement was signed by representatives from federal and state governments and the private sector.

• Goals: The declaration sets ambitious targets for increasing phosphorus recovery rates, ensuring that this essential nutrient is effectively recycled.

• Regulatory Support: The initiative is backed by strong regulatory frameworks that will guide the development of recovery technologies and practices.

• Economic Impact: The move is expected to create new market opportunities in the recycling and waste management sectors.

This declaration represents a major step toward sustainable resource management, with a focus on recovering and reusing phosphorus, a critical element for agriculture.

🔗 source

more articles:

1. Recycling Realities and Greenwashing Gimmicks: Unveiling the Multi-faceted Nature of Recyclability
2. Navigating CSR Reporting in the EU
3. Waste is not turning into Value
4. Understanding the European Supply Chain Act: A New Era of Corporate Responsibility
5. The Future of the Plastic Industry: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Mattersdorfer
I would call myself a person who is interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, knowledge-sharing and probably a few other things. I summed up my “big 5 for life” (very much recommend the book, if you do not know it) on my website (👇). After setting up some start-ups in the area of circular economy, combined with continuous curiosity, I decided to share some learnings, thoughts and questions here regularly. I would be happy if you let me know, what you think about them. Cheers!

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