The Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2025 successfully convened nearly 220 experts from 28 countries to highlight pioneering advancements and strengthen industry collaboration in recycling diverse materials, including plastics, textiles, and automotive waste.
This year's program focused on the continuous optimization of core technologies, from physical methods like extrusion and dissolution to chemical solvolysis, biochemical enzymolysis, and thermochemical treatments such as pyrolysis and gasification. A key element driving this optimization is the integration of cutting-edge digital solutions, including AI-driven sorting and blockchain traceability, which are essential for ensuring reliable feedstock quality and scaling circular systems amid fluctuating waste volumes.
ARC 2025 also addressed the critical need for chemical recycling to build credibility by demonstrating clear advancements in process efficiency and transparency throughout the value chain. Innovative strategies were explored for complex sectors like textile and automotive recycling to overcome challenging material blends and increasing regulatory pressures. Furthermore, the integration of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) emphasized the industry’s shift toward truly sustainable circular business models. A significant recurring theme was the urgent need for expanding recycling infrastructure to support the large-scale deployment of these advanced technologies and meet ambitious regulatory targets.
The conference facilitated extensive networking, strengthening partnerships, which was further enhanced by a site visit to Chemiepark Knapsack, where participants observed industrial-scale deployment of advanced recycling technologies in action.
By bringing together stakeholders from the technology, policy, and investment spheres, ARC 2025 outlined a clear path for achieving ambitious EU targets. These goals include increasing post-consumer recycled plastics in packaging to between 10 per cent and 35 per cent by 2030 and embedding 25 per cent recycled content in new vehicles. These cooperative efforts are crucial for overcoming challenges related to feedstock availability, variability, and infrastructure gaps, ultimately fueling growth in renewable carbon value chains and advancing the defossilization of the chemical industry.
The Advanced Recycling Conference was supported by visionary sponsors dedicated to advancing recycling solutions, including Gold Sponsor Siemens and Bronze Sponsors Buss ChemTech, Erema Group, and Starlinger.
