The preliminary conference programme for the event accompanying the Plastics Recycling Show Europe has been published ahead of its return to the RAI Amsterdam exhibition centre on 5–6 May 2026. The organisers emphasise that the 10th anniversary edition will focus on restoring the competitiveness of the European plastics recycling sector. The programme covers regulatory issues as well as topics related to technological innovation and market development, and the sessions are scheduled across two parallel conference theatres. The event will also feature the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe ceremony.
Opening keynote: from crisis to competitiveness
The opening keynote is entitled From Crisis to Competitiveness: Re-Building the European Plastics Recycling Industry and is intended to set the main directions of discussion for both days of the event. The keynote will feature Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe.
According to the programme, core sessions will address measures to restore the competitiveness of European plastics recycling and to implement EU regulatory frameworks in a way that ensures fair competition in the market. The debates will also focus on turning policy objectives into practical implementation and on creating investment conditions that support innovation and growth across the entire plastics recycling value chain.
Speakers from the plastics and recycling industries
The organisers have already confirmed the participation of a number of representatives of leading companies and organisations involved in recycling and plastics processing. The announced speakers include, among others:
- Kristin Geidenmark Olofsson, Raw Material Leader Recycled Polymers, Ikea
- Marta Iglesias Émbil, Head of Product Environmental Affairs / R&D, Seat, S.A.
- Gian De Belder, Technical Director – Packaging Sustainability, Procter & Gamble
- Virginia Janssens, Managing Director, Plastics Europe
- Yvonne van Veen, Head of Advocacy, Ineos
- Ermis Panagiotopoulos, Business Development Manager, Indorama
- Manfred Hackl, CEO, Erema Group
The speakers represent various parts of the value chain, from manufacturers of end products and brand owners, through industry associations, to technology and raw material suppliers. This is intended to enable a multifaceted discussion on the recycling market, demand for recyclates and conditions for investment development.
Thematic sessions and new recycling areas
In addition to the core sessions, the conference will include a block dedicated to specific market sectors and their related opportunities and barriers to further increasing circularity. Discussions are planned on opportunities and challenges in various industries in which plastics and recyclates play an increasingly important role.
For the first time, the Plastics Recycling Show Europe programme includes a dedicated module on polyurethane recycling. One of the speakers in this block will be Michel Baumgartner, Director General of Europur. The inclusion of polyurethane recycling in the agenda indicates a broadening of the conference scope to cover additional material groups.
Panel discussions and key topics for the recycling market
An important part of the programme will be interactive panel discussions devoted to issues currently considered crucial for the development of European plastics recycling. The announced topics include, among others:
- innovation-driven investment,
- driving sustainable demand for recyclates through voluntary pledges,
- securing predictable recycling feedstock supply,
- eliminating structural greenwashing,
- the importance of traceability in global plastics trade.
The aim of these discussions is to facilitate the exchange of experience between representatives of industry, public authorities and trade organisations, as well as to identify possible courses of action to support the development of the recycling market in Europe.
Plastics Recycling Awards Europe and sponsor presentations
The programme will also include the annual Plastics Recycling Awards Europe ceremony, at which projects and solutions considered particularly important for the development of the European plastics recycling industry will be recognised. The awards aim to highlight innovations and achievements in recycling, recyclate applications and product design for the circular economy.
A significant part of the programme will also be filled by presentations from Plastics Recycling Show Europe sponsors. These papers will cover a wide spectrum of innovations in plastics recycling technologies and solutions related to the circular economy. ExxonMobil and NGR World are gold event sponsors. Silver sponsors include Eastman, Fimic, Axens, SK Functional Polymer (SKFP), Schneider, Indaver, Trinseo, Sacmi, Lindner and VTT Research Finland.
Registration for the trade fair and conference
Participants interested in attending the exhibition and conference can register via the Plastics Recycling Show Europe website. Registration is free of charge until 5 April 2026; after this date, the registration fee will be 50 euros. The registration form is available at: https://www.prseventeurope.com/prse2026/en/page/visitor-registration.
