Circularity advanced through conversion of complex waste into feedstocks and polymers. Woosh, Borouge International and BlueAlp showcased diaper collection, separation and pyrolysis to deliver ISCC PLUS‑certified oil for new diapers. BASF’s Acronal Ccycled styrene‑acrylate binder integrates tire‑derived pyrolysis oil via mass balance into wall paint. At PRC Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, downstream leaders detailed hydroprocessing and upgrading schemes for cracker‑ready pyrolysis oils. Apparel moved to textile‑to‑textile with BASF’s loopamid, a textile‑to‑textile recycled polyamide 6 entering Lindex’s lingerie pipeline.
Progress in polyolefins included Thailand granting PureCycle’s FastPass Investment Acceleration Program status for a Rayong PP recycling plant, while brand‑facing components launched as PureFive Ultra recycled polypropylene closures with up to 75% PCR. In engineering plastics, Toshiba adopted Mitsui Chemicals’ mass‑balance biomass plastics for molded transformers, retaining performance under new efficiency standards. Bio‑based polymers expanded into comfort applications as Avantium’s plant‑based PEF, marketed as releaf, was prototyped for automated foam encapsulation in cushions.
Europe expanded waste‑based fuels: Repsol converted a refinery unit at its Puertollano industrial complex to 200,000 t/y renewable diesel and integrated biogas‑derived hydrogen for lower footprints. The EIF committed €200m to CIP’s Advanced Bioenergy Fund II to build industrial biomethane. Dutch support advanced thermochemical routes with EemsGas’ demolition‑wood gasification plant backed by SDE++. Low‑carbon bunkering diversified as a carrier was bunkered with ethanol in the port of Rotterdam alongside biomethanol, indicating operational handling of multiple oxygenates.
Minerals circularity progressed with an environmental permit for LKAB’s planned Industrial Park on Svartön, Luleå to recover phosphorus and rare earths from iron‑ore residuals. Agri‑residues logistics consolidated around circular processing of residual food‑production streams into animal feed at North Sea Port. Materials recycling diversified via a multi‑partner zirconia dental‑waste recycling project targeting regenerated blanks. Upstream construction emissions were addressed as Vattenfall used low‑emission steel from SSAB for PV mountings, cutting substructure CO₂ by roughly two‑thirds.
Industry collaborations targeted lower‑impact chemistries. Evonik and the University of Guanajuato will apply a biosurfactant platform to flotation reagents for copper, silver, gold, iron and rare earths. Application development capacity expanded with Covestro’s TPU Application Development Center in Guangzhou to accelerate scaling of specialty formulations. In personal care, Croda launched Beauty of Zero to embed lifecycle data, biotechnology, renewable inputs and circularity principles into ingredient design and manufacturing.
