Alongside core topics such as plastics and polymer recycling, this year’s conference will place a strong focus on relevant sectors such as textiles and on material-specific challenges including PVC. Dedicated sessions will examine key technologies such as dissolution, depolymerisation, pyrolysis and thermochemical recycling. The programme will also explore how digitalisation, financing and investment can accelerate the scale-up and commercial implementation of advanced recycling solutions. International experts will assess market potential and environmental performance and discuss the implications of evolving policy and regulatory frameworks.

With nearly 300 participants, the Advanced Recycling Conference has established itself as a key international meeting point for the recycling and materials sector. It enables technology providers, industry, researchers, investors and policy-makers to exchange practical knowledge and identify opportunities for collaboration. In doing so, the conference supports the transition of advanced recycling technologies from innovation to successful industrial implementation.

Further information and the full conference programme are available at https://advanced-recycling.eu.

Focus sessions tackle key challenges

The conference comes at a critical time, as new EU regulations are tightening requirements for recycling quotas and the use of recycled materials. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), for example, introduces minimum recycled-content requirements of between 10 % and 35 % for different types of plastic packaging by 2030, with higher targets expected by 2040. The proposed End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation would also require a minimum of 25 % recycled plastic in new vehicles. If adopted, this could significantly increase demand for recycled post-consumer plastics.

Meeting these targets will require the wider deployment of innovative recycling technologies and further investment in the necessary infrastructure. The conference will therefore address not only key technologies, but also regulatory impacts, market dynamics and environmental considerations in dedicated sessions:

• Advanced Recycling – Markets, Financing & Scaling
  

• Sustainability & Life Cycle Assessments
  

• Pyrolysis Oil Post-processing & Upgrading
  

• Textile Recycling
  

• PVC Recycling
  

• Depolymerisation Technologies for PET & Si-O-Based Polymers
  

• Dissolution Technologies
  

• Regulations and Tools for End-to-end Certifications Within the Recycling Loop
  

Increasing impact through collaboration

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 is supported by sponsors commited to advancing circular solutions. nova-Institute thanks Gold Sponsor Siemens, Silver sponsors BUSS ChemTech and Yncoris, and bronze sponsor Erema Group.

To encourage exchange among industry professionals, the event also features a trade exhibition and poster session. Exhibition stands can be booked at https://advanced-recycling.eu/exhibition-booking/. Posters can be submitted until 9 October 2026 via https://advanced-recycling.eu/call-for-posters/.

The Advanced Recycling Conference is supported by industry and trade associations, non- profit organisations, research institutions and interest groups that are thematically linked to the conference: BCNP Consultants (DE), C.A.R.M.E.N. (DE), ChemCologne (DE), Chemie-Cluster Bayern (DE), CLIB (DE), Fecc – European Association of Chemical Distributors (EU), IBB Netzwerk (DE), kunststoffland.NRW (DE), Plastics Europe (DE), Renewable Carbon Initiative (International), VinylPlus(DE).