Circular Economy

France Ecological Planning Council Announces 2026 Measures on PFAS and Plastics

France’s Ecological Planning Council has outlined 2026 priorities including a ban on PFAS in clothing and cosmetics, launch of a "Plan Plastique" to help meet EU plastic packaging recycling targets by 2030, and new rules for sewage sludge management. These signals point to tightening French expectations on PFAS use and plastic packaging, with future implementing measures likely to increase compliance pressure on textiles, cosmetics and packaging supply chains.

25 May 2026, 20:27vie-publique.frFrance

Global Impact Coalition Launches Phase 2 Automotive Plastics Pilot to Meet EU ELV Recycled Plastic Targets

The Global Impact Coalition has released Phase 1 results and launched Phase 2 of its Automotive Plastics Circularity project, showing that plastics from end-of-life vehicles can technically be recovered at scale while aligning this work with the EU’s forthcoming circularity requirements for vehicle design and end-of-life management. These pilots signal that OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and chemical producers will need to redesign components, build new dismantling and sorting capacity, and secure demand for recycled grades to comply with binding EU targets for 15–25% recycled plastic content and 20% closed-loop content in vehicles once the ELV regulation takes effect.

25 May 2026, 18:27innovationnewsnetwork.comEuropean UnionChina

European Parliament Registers Waste Shipment Proposal COM(2026) 183 and FEMM Own‑Initiative on Chemical Submission

The European Parliament has formally taken up the Commission’s proposal COM(2026) 183 to exempt exports of mixed municipal waste for recovery to Switzerland from the upcoming EU export ban and has mandated its FEMM committee to draft an own-initiative report on chemical submission and women’s rights. These steps signal both continued fine-tuning of EU waste‑shipment rules at the EU–Swiss border and rising political pressure to address chemical-related risks to women’s safety, offering early insight into where future regulatory tightening or enforcement focus may emerge.

25 May 2026, 18:26eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionSwitzerland

New Jersey DEP Conditionally Approves PureCycle PP Under Recycled Content Law

In May 2026 New Jersey’s environment department granted PureCycle a one-year conditional approval for its dissolution-based polypropylene resin to count as recycled content under the state’s packaging recycled content law. This clarifies that advanced recycled PP can help brands meet rising recycled-content obligations and enforcement after 2025, but only if PureCycle and its customers satisfy NJDEP’s documentation, registration, and reporting requirements as the approval is reviewed.

25 May 2026, 18:23resource-recycling.comUnited States

Sweden Introduces DIWASS Digital Waste Shipment Permits With Transitional Paper-Based Customs Handling

From 21 May 2026, Sweden will implement the DIWASS digital permit system for cross-border waste shipments while keeping customs processing of Annex VII transports paper-based until the end of 2026 during a transition period. Companies moving waste via Swedish border crossings should ensure DIWASS permits are issued and printed for presentation at customs to avoid delays while digital customs system support is rolled out.

25 May 2026, 18:22tullverket.seSweden

New Zealand Environment Minister Signals Waste Law Overhaul, EPR Framework and Future Plastic Packaging Regulations

In May 2026 New Zealand's Environment Minister used a keynote speech to confirm plans to modernise waste legislation, create an extended producer responsibility framework, and prepare new plastic packaging regulations likely to take effect around 2030. This signals clear policy direction on EPR schemes, container return systems and waste levies, giving waste operators, brands and councils time to anticipate future compliance obligations and infrastructure investment needs.

25 May 2026, 18:21beehive.govt.nzNew Zealand

European Committee of the Regions Opinion on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan

The Official Journal has published a non-binding opinion from the European Committee of the Regions on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, setting out recommendations on energy, funding, permitting, PFAS substitution and remediation, circularity and the Critical Chemicals Alliance to support a competitive, decarbonised EU chemicals sector. While it does not itself create obligations, the opinion signals political pressure on the Commission and Member States to adjust ETS and CBAM design, simplify and harmonise chemicals regulation, and prioritise investment and regional support measures that will shape future compliance expectations for chemical producers and downstream industries.

25 May 2026, 18:21eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

German Bundestag Legal Affairs Committee Reviews Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Implementation Bill

In May 2026 the German Bundestag's Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection Committee scheduled a meeting and opinion deadline on the federal bill to modernise national implementation of EU ecodesign and energy labelling rules. This signals that Germany's horizontal framework for ecodesign and energy labelling is moving through the parliamentary committee phase, with potential upcoming changes to product efficiency and labelling requirements for manufacturers and retailers once the law is adopted.

25 May 2026, 18:20bundestag.deGermany

Maryland Adopts Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility Regulations (COMAR 26.04.14)

Maryland has adopted detailed Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility regulations (COMAR 26.04.14.01–.12), effective 25 May 2026, creating an extended producer responsibility regime for covered packaging and paper materials. Producers and producer responsibility organisations will need to register by material category, design and implement compliant collection and recycling programmes, and update contracts, data and governance to meet new cost, reporting and advisory-council obligations over the implementation timeline.

25 May 2026, 17:11mde.maryland.govUnited States

Sweden Adopts Act (2026:507) Overhauling Environmental Code Waste Chapter

Sweden has adopted Act (2026:507) amending the Environmental Code’s waste chapter to align national rules with the updated EU Waste Framework Directive, tightening definitions, responsibilities and financial security around waste prevention and management from mid‑2026. The reform strengthens obligations for municipalities, waste holders and producers, expands extended producer responsibility and waste fee rules, and will require operators to review contracts, permits and internal waste systems ahead of the 1 July 2026 entry into force and subsequent 2029–2032 transition deadlines.

25 May 2026, 15:48eur-lex.europa.euSweden

Netherlands To Implement MKI Protocol 5.0 And A2 Weighting Set In GWW Procurement

From July 2026 Rijkswaterstaat will apply MKI Protocol 5.0 and, from 2027, a new European A2 weighting set in Dutch civil-works procurement to change how environmental impacts are calculated and scored in tenders. These changes are expected to roughly double MKI values and shift the relative ranking of sustainable design options, so contractors must update tools, data and bid strategies to remain competitive in GWW tenders.

25 May 2026, 15:47rijkswaterstaat.nlNetherlands

EU Committee of the Regions Issues Opinion on EPR Authorised Representative Proposal for WEEE and Single-Use Plastics

The EU Committee of the Regions has issued an advisory opinion on the Commission’s proposal COM(2025) 983 to suspend authorised representative rules in extended producer responsibility schemes for waste, WEEE and single-use plastics, emphasising that simplification must not weaken environmental safeguards or shift burdens onto local authorities. This signals that cities, regions and their networks are likely to push for strong polluter-pays, traceability and enforcement provisions as negotiations progress, so producers and EPR schemes should plan for scenarios where key obligations are retained or only partially relaxed.

25 May 2026, 15:46data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands IenW Publishes 2025 Sustainability Report on Climate-Neutral and Circular Infrastructure

The Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has published its 2025 sustainability report, tightening CO2 targets for infrastructure projects and embedding climate-neutral, circular criteria in procurement from 2027 onwards. This signals sustained demand for low-carbon asphalt, concrete and emission-free equipment in the Dutch GWW sector, shaping bidder expectations and investment decisions even though it does not itself introduce new standalone legal obligations.

25 May 2026, 15:45zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Spain Adopts Order TED/499/2026 Updating Circular Economy Grants for Textile, Fashion and Plastics Sectors

Spain has amended the regulatory bases for circular-economy grants for textile, fashion and plastics projects through Order TED/499/2026 under the national Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The change obliges Fundación Biodiversidad to reinvest unspent funds, strengthens independent evaluation and adds semi-annual climate-impact reporting, signalling tighter oversight and more predictable funding for circular-economy investments in these value chains.

25 May 2026, 15:38boe.esSpain

EU EESC Issues Opinion on Sodium Battery Manufacturing and Strategic Autonomy

The EU’s Economic and Social Committee has issued a non-binding opinion urging accelerated development of a sodium battery manufacturing ecosystem to boost strategic autonomy, energy system resilience and alignment with the Green and Blue Deals. This signals likely future EU support and expectations for PFAS-free, low-impact, circular sodium battery value chains, with implications for battery makers, materials suppliers and energy infrastructure planners across Europe.

25 May 2026, 15:34eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Council of the EU Consults on Proposal to Amend Waste Shipment Regulation for Mixed Municipal Waste Exports to Switzerland

The Council of the EU has begun consulting the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Commission proposal to amend the EU Waste Shipment Regulation so that mixed municipal waste can continue to be exported for recovery to Switzerland. If adopted, this targeted change would preserve existing cross-border waste flows from EU border regions to high-standard Swiss facilities, avoiding cost and emissions increases while leaving the broader 2024/1157 framework and upcoming export restrictions to other third countries unchanged.

25 May 2026, 15:28eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Florida Attorney General Issues Antitrust CID to U.S. Plastics Pact Over “Problematic Materials” Standards

Florida’s Attorney General has issued an antitrust civil investigative demand (CID No. 26‑031) to the U.S. Plastics Pact, seeking extensive information on its “Problematic and Unnecessary Materials List”, associated packaging design guidance, and potential price or competition impacts. The action highlights that collaborative plastics and packaging initiatives and voluntary “problematic materials” standards may be scrutinised under state antitrust law, requiring companies and NGOs involved in such efforts to coordinate closely between legal, antitrust and sustainability teams.

24 May 2026, 21:36myfloridalegal.comUnited States

Delaware Senate Introduces Amendment SA 1 to SB 287 on Solid Waste Recycling

Delaware’s Senate is considering SB 287 to tighten universal recycling requirements for haulers and commercial businesses, and Senate Amendment 1 has now been introduced to refine the bill while it remains in committee. If adopted, the legislation would expand mandatory recycling service, waste assessments, record-keeping and reporting expectations across residential and commercial generators, signalling a more prescriptive state approach to waste diversion and oversight for site operators in Delaware.

24 May 2026, 21:32legis.delaware.govUnited States

US House Committee Advances H.R. 2145 Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act to Full House

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee has reportedly advanced H.R. 2145, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025, to the full House after a unanimous 48–0 vote. If enacted, it would channel new EPA grants and data efforts into expanding recycling and composting infrastructure in underserved US communities, signalling long-term support for municipal and packaging waste solutions rather than imposing immediate new producer obligations.

24 May 2026, 21:26d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.netUnited States

New York Senate Advances Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to Third Reading

The New York Senate has advanced the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to third reading, moving a far-reaching packaging extended producer responsibility bill for packaging and single-use plastics closer to passage. If enacted, large producers of packaged goods would need to register with a state-approved organisation, finance recycling infrastructure, cut packaging use, increase reuse and recycled content, and phase out PFAS and other toxic substances from packaging over the coming decade.

24 May 2026, 21:23nysenate.govUnited States