#Recycling / Circular Economy

2025-04-17

EuRIC and FEAD point at ELV regulation to protect recycling and boost circularity

Creating a circular automotive sector requires more than just commitments; it demands a robust regulatory framework that promotes fair, transparent practices and ensures the uptake of recycled materials.

EuRIC and FEAD believe the upcoming End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) is the right opportunity to set the right safeguards that prevent practices which hinder competition, circularity, and recyclers’ efforts to recover materials – thereby supporting Europe’s competitiveness and futureproofing recycling and circularity. To achieve this, EuRIC and FEAD urge policymakers to:

Establish independent oversight to monitor the operations of producers and their Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to prevent potential market distortions and conflicts of interest.

Recognise that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are not the silver bullet. Where EPR schemes are already in place, the entire recycling value chain, from Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) to mechanical recyclers (equipped with shredding and post-shredding technologies), must be included in the governance to ensure effective and transparent recycling practices.

Ensure that manufacturers cover the full costs of ELV recycling, including dismantling and treatment, with recyclers keeping ownership of the valuable parts and materials recovered.

While transparency and fair practices are critical to protect recyclers and waste operators, true circularity in automotive is still a long way off. To secure investments in high-quality recycling and the uptake of recycled materials that boost circularity, EuRIC and FEAD strongly call for:

Maintaining the 25% recycled content target for plastics in ELVs, as proposed by the Commission. This target is both realistic and verified, and should be based on post-consumer waste, excluding pre-consumer waste and biobased plastics, which could strongly undermine its effectiveness.

Introducing a mandatory recycled content target for steel in automotive, as steel remains the leading material in vehicle production. This target would drive investment and improve the quality of steel recovered from ELVs.

The recent announcement of Commission decision against car manufacturers and ACEA shows the need for change. To protect recyclers’ efforts, boost circularity, and guarantee the use of recycled materials, the EU must act decisively. The upcoming End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) is a key opportunity to set the rules for fairness, transparency, and long-term circularity in the automotive sector.

The European Recycling Conference 2025 heads to Hamburg

The European Recycling Conference (ERC) is coming to Hamburg, Germany, on 1 October 2025. This year’s edition, co-organised with EuRIC’s German members BDSV, bvse, and VDM, will explore the topic of “Building a competitive market for recycled materials”, and their critical role in delivering on the EU’s Competitiveness Compass and Clean Industrial Deal objectives.

HKRITA signs MoU with Jeanologia and Looptworks to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) yesterday officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two key global partners, Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.

Object Carpet tests production of rPET BCF yarn on Neumag BCF line

In a joint project with Object Carpet GmbH, Denkendorf; the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA), Augsburg; and Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR), Feldkirchen, Austria, Barmag investigated the processing of recycled polyester for BCF yarn. The goal was to evaluate the fundamental suitability of 100% recycled carpet material for reuse in carpet yarn production to create a closed-loop system in carpet manufacturing. To date, commercial rPET BCF processes have been based solely on rPET from bottle pellets.

Albany International reports progress with Cyclezyme on industrial textile recycling project

Albany International Corp. (NYSE:AIN) reports continued progress in the ongoing project with Cyclezyme AB, a leader in advanced enzyme-based plastic recycling, based in Sweden. The project exemplifies leading edge innovation in materials science, focusing on the development of enzyme-based recycling of industrial textiles primarily consisting of polyester and polyamide, where there is currently a significant lack of effective solutions for circular material flows. The objective of the project is to establish enzymatic processes for depolymerization and recycling of technical textiles and high-performance industrial materials.

The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.