Resource Use

Map of Europe showing steel recycling rates in different countries
Recycling
European steel packaging recycling rate hits 82 per cent

Steel remains the most widely recycled packaging material, according to data published by Steel Packaging Europe.


Independently verified figures show that across the continent 82 per cent of steel packaging was recycled in 2023 - a two per cent increase from 2022.

Andrew Gomarsall MBE, Executive Director of n2s and founding partner of Bioscope Technologies
Recovery
Unlocking UK resilience through material recovery

Andrew Gomarsall explores strategic investments needed to double UK's circularity rate

Large heap of potatoes in a farm field
Recycling
Government announces £13.6m for surplus farm food redistribution

Grants to 12 food charities will redistribute 19,000 tonnes of surplus produce

Landfill site
ESA outlines vision for UK circular economy by 2040
By
Beth Jones
| 5 June 2025 |
Trade body representing waste management companies presents a five-pronged framework to reduce waste, maximise recyclability, increase participation, improve infrastructure, and prevent crime
Biomonitoring study conducted in river
Biomonitoring: Tracking the health risks of incineration
By
Beth Jones
| 4 June 2025 |
In 2023/24, over 50 per cent of the UK’s municipal waste was incinerated. Although emissions are tightly monitored, there is an emerging discipline that seeks to check there are no adverse impacts in the local environment. Beth Jones investigates.
Excavation digger manages construction waste
Scotland to pioneer circular construction hub model targeting £67 million investment
By
Charles Newman
| 2 June 2025 |
Zero Waste Scotland part of European pilot project to develop marketplace for reused building materials
Revantis pilot plant equipment
Start-up secures Series A funding for plastic recycling technology
By
Beth Jones
| 30 May 2025 |
Scottish start-up Reventas raises investment to scale chemical recycling process for polyethylene and polypropylene from pilot to commercial operation
Bales of plastic waste
€400 billion investment needed for chemical recycling viability
By
Beth Jones
| 28 May 2025 |
Bain & Company analysis suggests pyrolysis costs more than twice virgin plastic production, with 20-30 years needed to achieve cost parity
Pile of tyres
EuRIC proposes five changes to European tyre recycling policy
By
Beth Jones
| 22 May 2025 |
Trade body sets targets for recycled content and export bans to strengthen circularity of end-of-life tyres
Clothes on hangers
France to host first commercial-scale blended textile recycling facility
By
Beth Jones
| 21 May 2025 |
Saint-Avold facility will recycle poly-cotton blends into cellulose and PET textile inputs using hydrothermal technology
Pile of discarded, used textiles in bin
WRAP warns of looming collapse in UK used textiles sector
By
Beth Jones
| 21 May 2025 |
Environmental NGO warns that unsustainable losses could place a £64 million burden on local authorities, charities, and consumers if struggling industry fails
Battery Recycling Conference & Expo
Trans-World Events announces line-up for e-waste conferences
By
Beth Jones
| 21 May 2025 |
Four specialised expos at Frankfurt Messe will feature over 130 speakers addressing critical challenges in resource recovery, regulatory compliance and circular economy
Charlie Eddisford Communities Lead at Resource Futures
£1.5m funding creates community repair and reuse hubs in Devon libraries
By Resource |
19 May 2025 |
Libraries Unlimited partners with grassroots groups to transform libraries into circular economy action centres
Material extraction mining operation
Global economy needs ‘fundamental restructuring’ to achieve circularity
By
Beth Jones
| 15 May 2025 |
Latest Circularity Gap Report finds secondary material use increased to 7.3 billion tonnes in 2021, but is outpaced by the growing consumption 
WRAP's FlexCollect trial
Plastic film recycling capacity gap looms ahead of 2027 target
By
Beth Jones
| 13 May 2025 |
WRAP’s Circular Films report suggests that storage, contamination, and infrastructure barriers remain ahead of 2027 mandatory kerbside collection
Altilium battery cell
Recycled EV battery materials pass industrial-scale testing
By
Beth Jones
| 13 May 2025 |
Altilium’s EcoCathode material demonstrates less than one per cent variation from commercial benchmarks at UK Battery Industrialisation Centre trials
Recycleye Qualibot sorting technology
Tetra Pak invests in robotic sorting technology at UK recycling facility
By
Beth Jones
| 8 May 2025 |
Two AI-powered automated arms installed at J&B Recycling’s Hartlepool MRF to improve food and beverage carton recycling rates
Futamura teriyaki sauce sachet
Compostable packaging solution developed for condiment sachets
By
Beth Jones
| 7 May 2025 |
Collaboration creates bio-degradable alternative for hard-to-recycle liquid pouches used for food, sauces, and personal care creams
Refill station in Aldi
UK supermarkets showcase commercially viable refill stations
By
Beth Jones
| 1 May 2025 |
Reusable packaging trial achieves up to 56 per cent sales share in Aldi stores and 86 per cent return rates through Ocado deliveries
Mattress recycling
Circular Sleep project aims to improve mattress recycling rates
By
Beth Jones
| 1 May 2025 |
FEAD leads new initiative to target 80 per cent recovery of end-of-life bedding materials through cross-industry collaboration
Wind turbine refurbishment
Circular wind farms offer a path to meeting UK clean energy targets
By
Beth Jones
| 1 May 2025 |
Metal recycler EMR is investing in specialist recycling of wind turbines, as the first wave built to earn Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) start to reach end-of-life
Island of Krk, Croatia
European cities become ‘part of the solution’ in waste prevention
By
Beth Jones
| 30 April 2025 |
Zero Waste Europe report highlights growing adoption of zero waste strategies, with over 86 municipalities focusing on prevention, reuse and repair initiatives over recycling
Apple iPhone being repaired
New data-led approach shows how electronics reuse cuts emissions
By
Beth Jones
| 29 April 2025 |
Methodology produced by consortium working with German telecoms industry operators including Vodafone, highlights real world impact of reusing smartphones and laptops