Områ, a new fine-sorting facility jointly owned by Tomra and Plastretur, has been officially opened near Oslo. The plant can process 90,000 tonnes of plastic packaging a year, sorting mixed waste into up to ten polymer fractions for recycling.
Ecomondo 2025 opened at Rimini Expo Centre, gathering more than 1,700 exhibitors and a broad international delegation, with over 200 conferences focused on ecological transition and circular economy.
The EU-funded Upcycle project will demonstrate circular value chains that transform non-recyclable plastic waste into highly recyclable, non-persistent packaging. Aimplas will develop and assess new polyesters and blends, focusing on recyclability and end-of-life safety.
The new European standard EN 18065 incorporates DIN SPEC 91446 and 91481, creating a unified classification and digital product passport for plastic recyclates. The framework targets cross-sector use, with emphasis on packaging and automotive applications.
ETH Zurich, in collaboration with BASF, reports that co-gasifying automotive shredder residue with biomass can cut greenhouse gas emissions versus incineration and yield synthesis gas for chemicals, offering policy-relevant insights as the EU prepares new rules on end-of-life vehicles.
RecyClass has issued its first Automotive and EEE Technology Approval to Dow’s Elvaloy AC 1330, confirming full compatibility with the ABS recycling stream under European-like conditions.
ENGEL received four gold awards at the 2025 SPE Automotive Awards, recognising projects in electronical/optical parts, body interior, enabler technology and the Grand Innovation Award. The applications emphasise functional integration, lightweighting and measurable CO₂ reductions.
Stadler inaugurated a 27,000-square-foot office and warehouse complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to expand service capacity, logistics and customer support across North America.
Ecomondo will take place on 4–7 November 2025 in Rimini. The organizer expects the participation of over 350 buyers from 66 countries and more than 200 conferences and workshops focused on the ecological transition.
Zumtobel has introduced the second generation of its Tecton continuous-row luminaire system, again specifying Röhm’s Plexiglas PMMA molding compounds for the optics. The update expands optical options and emphasizes durability and circular design.
Family-owned KVZ Hintermayr has commissioned a Vecoplan VIZ 1700 shredder at its Wertingen plant to increase throughput and flexibility in processing diverse plastic waste. The HiTorc drive and VSC system are intended to cut energy consumption and support stable extruder line operation.
At K 2025, Taiwan showcased its strength in a distinctive way. Over 130 Taiwanese companies presented solutions in machinery, recycling, materials and automation, making Taiwan one of the most strongly represented non-European countries at the fair.
