Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 to Focus on Scaling Recycling Technologies
The Cologne event will explore recycling technologies, textile and PVC waste, investment opportunities and regulatory challenges to accelerate industrial implementation.
The Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026 will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, investors and policymakers on 17 and 18 November in Cologne, Germany, to explore ways to scale advanced recycling technologies and strengthen the circular economy.
Europe’s chemical and materials industries face growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, secure raw material supplies and meet increasingly ambitious recycling targets. Against this backdrop, ARC 2026 will examine the technologies, market opportunities and financial strategies needed to move innovative recycling solutions from development to commercial implementation.
This year’s programme will focus on plastics and polymer recycling, alongside specialised areas such as textile recycling and PVC. Dedicated sessions will cover dissolution, depolymerisation, pyrolysis and thermochemical recycling. Discussions will also examine how digitalisation, investment and financing can support the wider adoption of advanced recycling technologies.
International experts will assess market potential, environmental performance and the impact of changing policy and regulatory frameworks. With nearly 300 participants, the conference has established itself as an international meeting point for stakeholders across the recycling and materials industries.
EU Regulations Drive Demand for Recycled Materials
New European Union regulations are increasing pressure on industries to improve recycling rates and incorporate more recycled materials into products.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces minimum recycled-content requirements of 10% to 35% for different types of plastic packaging by 2030, with higher targets expected by 2040.
The proposed End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation would also require at least 25% recycled plastic in new vehicles. If adopted, this measure could increase demand for recycled post-consumer plastics.
Meeting these targets will require wider deployment of advanced recycling technologies and greater investment in collection, processing and recycling infrastructure. ARC 2026 will address these challenges through dedicated sessions covering technology, regulation, market development and environmental performance.
Key Topics on the Conference Agenda
The conference programme will cover the following areas:
- Advanced Recycling: Markets, Financing and Scaling
- Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessments
- Pyrolysis Oil Post-processing and Upgrading
- Textile Recycling
- PVC Recycling
- Depolymerisation Technologies for PET and Si-O-Based Polymers
- Dissolution Technologies
- Regulations and Tools for End-to-end Certifications Within the Recycling Loop
These sessions aim to support knowledge exchange and help industry stakeholders identify practical pathways to scale recycling solutions.
Industry Collaboration and Networking
The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 is supported by industry sponsors working to advance circular solutions. nova-Institute has acknowledged Siemens as Gold Sponsor, BUSS ChemTech and Yncoris as Silver Sponsors, and Erema Group as Bronze Sponsor.
The event will also feature a trade exhibition and poster session to encourage collaboration among industry professionals, researchers and technology developers.
Exhibition stands can be booked through the official exhibition booking page. Researchers and other contributors can submit posters until 9 October 2026 through the call for posters page.
The conference receives support from industry and trade associations, non-profit organisations, research institutions and other stakeholder groups, including BCNP Consultants, C.A.R.M.E.N., ChemCologne, Chemie-Cluster Bayern, CLIB, Fecc, IBB Netzwerk, kunststoffland.NRW, Plastics Europe, the Renewable Carbon Initiative and VinylPlus.
By bringing together technology developers, manufacturers, investors and policymakers, ARC 2026 aims to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the commercial deployment of advanced recycling technologies across multiple waste streams.
For further information and the complete programme, visit the Advanced Recycling Conference website.
