PLASTIC PACKAGING

Germany's federal cabinet approves PPWR Implementation Act / Recycling rate for plastic packaging rises to 75% / Criticism from industry bodies: ‘the political brakes are on'

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Trump rescinds EPA's 2009 Endangerment Finding / End to greenhouse regulation in US / Effect on manufacturing unclear

RECYCLING

UK FSA to certify domestic recyclate for EU food contact

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

EU Commission unit signs off on new rules for recyclate in plastic bottles / Standardised mass-balance methods, restrictions on rPET imports up to 2027 included

EU POLICY

Urgent calls for help to stem bloc's deindustrialisation / Antwerp Declaration mired in the mud / Two major meetings in Belgium bring stakeholders together

PFAS

EU Commission to make 2026 a ‘year of action' on forever chemicals / New study quantifies risks for human health if substances are not banned

EU POLICY

Critical Chemicals Alliance general assembly gets sector approval / Plastics Europe joins steering board / Industry repeats call for ‘action not words'

NORTH AMERICA

Chemical industry groupings set priorities for new USMCA trade deal / Outlook for treaty uncertain / Trump holds the trump card

PLASTIC PACKAGING GERMANY

Federal government not planning national plastics tax – at least not ‘for the time being'

POLYAMIDE 6

India investigates dumped imports from China and Russia

RECYCLING AUSTRIA

Tax on non-recyclable packaging planned

EU-INDIA TRADE

Landmark deal slashes car tariffs to 40% / Plastics, chemicals tariffs down to 0% for almost all products

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

California recycling rates in sub-basement / State action to deal with SUP glut stalled / Fresh revision of regulatory proposals held back again

PACKAGING WASTE EUROPE

EU to implement labelling specifications by August 2026 / Visual harmonisation a PPWR priority

PLASTICS INDUSTRY EUROPE

Plastics Europe Polska calls for urgent action, proposes establishment of Chemicals and Plastics Trade Observatory

MICROPLASTICS

Studies claiming risk to human health did not paint the full picture, say researchers

EU TRADE

Automotive set to benefit from new “landmark” EU-Mercosur trade deal / Farmers blast agreement as a “sell out”

USA

Trump announces withdrawal from more climate agreements, UN programmes / Experts ponder legality of planned severance moves

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Dubai bans several SUP products / Move marks final phase of UAE-wide initiative launched in 2022

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Study proposes measures to tackle plastics pollution / Urgent action needed in next five years / Suggested bans on PS, EPS, PVC packaging