Back to Top

Tag Archives: Europe

Brands advance sustainability – but use more plastic overall

Published: January 3, 2023
Updated:

by
McDonald's drink cups and straws discarded on concrete.

WWF found that 34% of members’ plastic footprint was recycled, 9% incinerated, 43% landfilled and 15% mismanaged. | Kraft74/Shutterstock

In 2021, major brands increased their use of PCR and cut back on “problematic plastics,” but the amount of plastic they put on the market grew by over 5%, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Continue Reading

European panel approves PET recycling technologies

Published: January 3, 2023
Updated:

by
EFSA approved packaging from Greiner Packaging.

Greiner Packaging was one of several companies to get the go-ahead from the European Food Safety Authority to recycle post-consumer PET into 100% recycled-content food and drink packaging. | Courtesy of Greiner

A scientific review panel has given the green light to several different technologies to recycle post-consumer PET and polyolefins into 100% recycled-content food and drink packaging.

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , , , |

EU eyes higher recycled content requirements

Published: November 29, 2022
Updated:

by
EU flags outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Commission is expected to announce the revisions of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive the week of Nov. 28. | VanderWolf Images/Shutterstock

This story has been updated.

Online delivery packaging, takeaway cups and plastic drink bottles could see new targets for reuse and recycled content under proposals from the European Commission. 

Continue Reading

Global roundup: New facilities, pollution-reduction partnerships

Published: September 28, 2022
Updated:

by
Globe resting on newspaper.

A number of plastic recycling announcements have been made around the world in recent weeks. | sukiyaki/Shutterstock

From France to Kenya to Thailand, a number of companies are building new facilities, cleaning up waterways and keeping an eye on working conditions. Here’s a roundup of some recent global plastic news. 

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , |

Energy crisis threatens European plastics reclaimers

Published: September 28, 2022
Updated:

by
Yellow gas pipelines

Energy prices are surging in Europe due to multiple factors, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. | MVelishchuk/Shutterstock

The European energy crisis has driven electricity prices up to 70% of plastics reclaimers’ operating expenses, and without help, they may have to close, according to an industry group. 

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged |

Project points to potential in partial PET depolymerization

Published: August 24, 2022
Updated:

by
Ocean plastics-Rich Carey-Shutterstock

Researchers found success with partial depolymerization of virgin PET and PET bottles recovered from the sea. | Rich Carey/Shutterstock

A chemical recycling research project concluded that a partial depolymerization technique can break down scrap PET in a relatively short time and under mild conditions with little energy use.

Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , |