A redesigned ‘plastic eating’ enzyme could help turn old polyester textiles back into useful raw materials – but only if the plastic is prepared in the right way.  In a study published in Bioresource Technology Journal, scientists from the universities of Portsmouth and Manchester report that a specially engineered enzyme can significantly speed up the breakdown of PET – the plastic used in water bottles, food packaging and polyester clothing – when it is processed at high co

A ‘Made in EU’ competitiveness model should be anchored in sustainably sourced biomass, high quality recycled materials, and European technological leadership across these sectors.   While other regions rely on coal, gas and other fossil reserves to build competitiveness on cheap energy, Europe can build a more resilient, futureproof growth model around the materials it has in abundance: sustainably managed forests, efficient recycling systems, and the industrial know how tha

Hotmelt polymers must deliver consistent performance under demanding conditions. Formulators rely on predictable viscosity, strong cohesion, stable processing behaviour, and a consistent low odour environment from batch to batch.   Licocene Terra was developed to help adhesive formulators integrate renewable carbon into their formulations while maintaining familiar processing behaviour and performance contribution. As part of the Licocene m-PO specialty polymer portfolio, it

Plastic resource efficiency and recycling charity Recoup has published its annual UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey, revealing that, of the English local authorities not yet offering kerbside flexible plastic packaging collections, four in five (78%) plan to do so on or before the Simpler Recycling deadline of the 31 March 2027.    However, many appear to be leaving it late. Two thirds (67%) expect to introduce the service in early 2027, with almost half (47%)

Today is Global Recycling Day. Winnie Muheling, director of marketing & communications at Pro Carton, comments.   Global Recycling Day is an opportunity to recognise how recycling powers circularity in practice – closing the loop between production, consumption, and regeneration. The latest Pro Carton European Consumer Packaging Perceptions Survey, released this month, confirms that consumers increasingly view ‘ease of recycling’ as the number one priority when it comes to su

A wave of recent policy and regulatory developments is reshaping the UK’s net zero and energy compliance landscape, marking a decisive shift from ambition towards delivery, evidence and accountability. At the centre of this shift is the publication of Version 1 of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, led by CIBSE and a coalition of industry bodies. For the first time, the UK has a single, science based framework that defines what it means for a building to be net zero c

Britain could reduce the impact of rising global gas prices and supply concerns caused by the conflict in the Gulf by rapidly increasing domestic green gas production, according to the UK’s anaerobic digestion industry.   The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) says existing biomethane plants could increase production by almost a third within months if government removes several regulatory barriers, boosting UK gas supply before next winter.   Biomethane –

Chiesi Group and Bespak have announced an expansion of their long standing partnership, increasing pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) manufacturing capacity at Bespak’s Holmes Chapel site to support the next phase of Chiesi’s carbon minimal inhaler (CMI) programme.   Building on years of collaboration, the agreement reflects a shared long term vision: delivering lower carbon inhaled therapies through CMIs at scale, without compromising clinical choice or continuity of ca

In 2025, SCA reached a historic milestone: 3.1 million cubic metres of roundwood were transported by rail. This is the highest volume ever moved through the company’s rail system. ‘We have systematically worked to increase the amount of goods transported by rail and hope to maintain a consistently high level, as it strengthens both our environmental performance and our competitiveness,’ said Magnus Wikström, head of industrial supply at SCA Forest.   With 13 strategic timber