Cologne conference to examine recycling technologies, textile and PVC waste streams, financing, markets and regulatory developments.
Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 to Explore Industrial Scale-Up
The Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026 will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policymakers to examine the technologies, markets and financing needed to move advanced recycling solutions from innovation to industrial implementation.
The conference will take place on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany, against a backdrop of increasing pressure on Europe’s chemical and materials sector to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material security and resilience, and meet ambitious EU recycling targets.
Alongside plastics and polymer recycling, this year’s conference will place greater emphasis on textile recycling and material-specific challenges including PVC recycling.
Focus on Advanced Recycling Technologies
Dedicated sessions at ARC 2026 will examine technologies including dissolution, depolymerisation, pyrolysis and thermochemical recycling.
The programme will also explore the role of digitalisation, financing and investment in accelerating the scale-up and commercial implementation of advanced recycling technologies.
International experts will assess market potential and environmental performance while discussing the implications of evolving policy and regulatory frameworks for the recycling and materials sector.
With nearly 300 participants, the Advanced Recycling Conference has established itself as an international meeting point for the recycling and materials industry. The event provides a platform for technology providers, industry representatives, researchers, investors and policymakers to exchange practical knowledge and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Conference Sessions Address Key Recycling Challenges
The conference comes as new EU regulations increase requirements related to recycling quotas and the use of recycled materials.
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 a minimum of 25% recycled plastic in new vehicles. If adopted, the measure could increase demand for recycled post-consumer plastics.
Meeting these targets will require wider deployment of innovative recycling technologies alongside investment in the required infrastructure.
ARC 2026 will therefore address technological, regulatory, market and environmental aspects through dedicated sessions covering:
- Advanced Recycling – Markets, Financing & Scaling
- Sustainability & Life Cycle Assessments
- Pyrolysis Oil Post-processing & Upgrading
- Textile Recycling
- PVC Recycling
- Depolymerisation Technologies for PET & Si-O-Based Polymers
- Dissolution Technologies
- Regulations and Tools for End-to-end Certifications Within the Recycling Loop
Collaboration Across the Recycling Value Chain
The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 is supported by sponsors working on circular solutions. Siemens is the Gold Sponsor, while BUSS ChemTech and Yncoris are Silver Sponsors and Erema Group is a Bronze Sponsor.
The event will also feature a trade exhibition and poster session to encourage knowledge exchange among industry professionals.
Exhibition stands are available through the conference website, while poster submissions will remain open until 9 October 2026.
The conference is supported by industry and trade associations, non-profit organisations, research institutions and interest groups, including BCNP Consultants, C.A.R.M.E.N., ChemCologne, Chemie-Cluster Bayern, CLIB, Fecc – European Association of Chemical Distributors, IBB Netzwerk, kunststoffland.NRW, Plastics Europe, Renewable Carbon Initiative and VinylPlus.
Supporting the Transition to Industrial Recycling
By bringing together technology developers, manufacturers, researchers, investors and policymakers, ARC 2026 will examine the practical requirements for scaling advanced recycling technologies.
With dedicated coverage of textiles, plastics, PVC, depolymerisation, dissolution and pyrolysis, the conference will provide a platform for discussions on the technological, commercial, environmental and regulatory factors shaping the next stage of advanced recycling.