Plastic Recycling
EU Researchers Achieve 95%+ Marine Plastic Sorting Purity
European Union-funded researchers have developed and tested a sorting technology that separates contaminated marine plastics at more than 95% purity. The CUPOLA project also investigated pyrolysis, gasification and other conversion methods to produce chemicals, fuels and industrial materials. A pilot-scale facility is the proposed next step toward practical deployment. CopyUC Berkeley Scientist Wins Eni Award for Plastic Recycling
UC Berkeley chemist John Hartwig has received the 2026 Eni Award for developing catalytic technology that breaks down polyethylene and polypropylene into reusable chemical building blocks. The research could support higher-quality plastics recycling and reduce reliance on virgin petroleum-based feedstocks.UNDP Supports 20 Sierra Leone Plastic Recycling Startups
UNDP has launched a three-day programme supporting 20 Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs developing solutions to plastic pollution. The initiative combines business training, investment readiness and market development with continued technical assistance to help local recycling and circular-economy ventures grow.Hawaii Tests Recycled Ocean Plastic in Asphalt Roads
Hawaii researchers are testing whether recycled polyethylene from marine debris and other plastic waste can be used in asphalt roads without increasing polymer shedding. Early results are encouraging, but long-term cracking, durability and environmental performance still require further study.Niagara Bottling to Test Enzymatic PET Recycling at Scale
Rhea’s Factory and Niagara Bottling will test RheaCycle enzymatic PET recycling under industrial conditions at Niagara’s Vernon, California facility, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory independently evaluating the system’s performance.Borouge Adds Nearly 14,000 Tonnes of Recycling Capacity
Borouge International plans to add nearly 14,000 tonnes of annual mechanical plastics recycling capacity across facilities in Germany and Austria. The Niedergebra expansion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, while additional recycled polyethylene capacity at Wildon is expected later that year.BIR Plastics Recycling Market Report: European Recyclers Face Margin Crisis
Europe’s plastic recycling industry remains under heavy financial pressure from weak demand, shrinking margins, plant closures and competition from virgin resin and imported recyclates, according to BIR. New EU recycled-content rules offer longer-term support, but much of that demand will not arrive soon enough to relieve recyclers struggling today.ALPLA Expands U.S. Operations with New Las Vegas Packaging Facility
ALPLA will open a 13,000-square-meter plastic bottle manufacturing plant at the Craig Road Logistics Center in North Las Vegas in spring 2027. The facility will use extrusion blow moulding technology, create 36 jobs and expand the company's U.S. network to 19 locations.U.S. Plastics Industry Drives 1M+ Jobs and $533.6B Economy
Furthermore, the report noted that plastics have outperformed overall manufacturing over nearly three decades.