Circular Economy

2025 is a key milestone in the EU’s fight against plastic pollution, paving the way for more significant progress by 2030.

With economic shifts and rising investments, developing countries are transforming plastic waste into valuable resources.

Secondary compounds enhance biopolymers’ antimicrobial, antioxidant, and mechanical properties for food preservation.

The polymer waste management market will reach USD 6 billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.7% from 2025.

Non-woven technologies are among the most innovative textile methods, and the strong demand for PP fabrics is expected to grow.

As one of the most adaptable polymer processing techniques, injection molding could transform plant-based meat production.

Phase 2 of the “PET Thermoform Recycling Costs & Material Flow Project” examined the technical, economic, and logistical challenges of recycling PET thermoforms and proposed actionable solutions to address these barriers.

Plastics Engineering spoke with Roberto Nunez, Director of Market Development at Baerlocher USA, about the company’s role in plastics recycling.

As advanced recycling evolves rapidly, new companies and facilities are constantly emerging, partnerships are being established, and capacities are increasing. This fast-paced development makes it increasingly difficult to maintain an overview of the sector.

With the growing demand for sustainable and high-performance materials, basalt fibers have become a promising reinforcement for marine composites.

Using recycled plastics in 3D printing reduces waste and carbon footprint, offering sustainable solutions such as filaments made from pre-and post-consumer recycled materials.

High-performance thermoset materials cannot be remelted or reshaped. Consequently, recycling carbon-fiber-reinforced composites poses significant challenges.