The Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026 will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers in Cologne, Germany, on 17–18 November 2026 to examine the technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of advanced recycling solutions.
The conference comes as Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces increasing pressure to close carbon loops, improve raw-material safety and resilience, and meet ambitious EU recycling targets.
While plastics and polymer recycling remain central themes, the 2026 edition will place greater emphasis on sectors including textiles and material-specific challenges such as PVC recycling.
Focus on Recycling Technologies and Scale-Up
Dedicated sessions at ARC 2026 will examine technologies including dissolution, depolymerisation, pyrolysis and thermochemical recycling.
The programme will also address the role of digitalisation, financing and investment in accelerating the scale-up and commercial implementation of advanced recycling technologies.
International experts will discuss market potential, environmental performance and the impact of evolving policy and regulatory frameworks on the recycling sector.
With nearly 300 participants, the Advanced Recycling Conference has become an international meeting point for the recycling and materials sector. The event provides an opportunity for technology providers, industry representatives, researchers, investors and policy-makers to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Regulatory Developments Drive Recycling Demand
The conference will take place amid changes in EU regulations aimed at increasing recycling quotas and the use of recycled materials.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces minimum recycled-content requirements of between 10% and 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 broader deployment of innovative recycling technologies and investment in supporting infrastructure. ARC 2026 will therefore examine technological, regulatory, market and environmental aspects of advanced recycling.
Dedicated Sessions Across Recycling Segments
The conference programme includes sessions covering a range of technologies and market developments:
- 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
The inclusion of a dedicated Textile Recycling session highlights the growing focus on recycling solutions for textile waste streams alongside plastics and other materials.
Exhibition and Poster Session
The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 will also feature a trade exhibition and poster session to support knowledge exchange among industry professionals.
The event is supported by sponsors including Siemens as Gold Sponsor, BUSS ChemTech and Yncoris as Silver sponsors, and Erema Group as Bronze sponsor.
Posters can be submitted until 9 October 2026, while exhibition stands are available for booking through the conference organisers.
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.
The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 will focus on how innovative recycling technologies can progress from development and demonstration towards wider industrial implementation, with technology, investment, regulation and market development forming key areas of discussion.