PETCORE Europe held an online webinar on April 16, 2026, showcasing innovation projects that were not selected for its Annual Conference 2026, titled “The PET Value Chain vs. Full Circularity.” The event, introduced by Roberto Bertaggia and Argiris Dabanlis, featured presentations on AI-driven PETase optimization, bottle innovation, textile circularity, traceability standards, and chemical recycling certification. The webinar aimed to highlight initiatives that facilitate PET circularity and help the industry respond to regulatory and market changes.
This initiative follows PETCORE Europe's call for papers in 2025, which attracted a large number of submissions from members and non-members, allowing only a limited selection for the conference. The webinar provides a platform for the remaining projects to gain visibility. The focus on circularity aligns with broader EU policy developments, including Commissioner Jessika Roswall's November 2025 proposal for a Circular Economy Act to boost competitiveness and reduce raw material dependency, and her December 2025 speech emphasizing retailers as key players in climate goals.
The event also complements ongoing discussions on waste regulation. In April 2026, EU official Sophia Zakari called for harmonised waste rules to aid SME circularity, while FEAD and a coalition of signatories raised concerns about suspending authorised representative requirements in Extended Producer Responsibility systems. PETCORE Europe's webinar, by promoting innovation in PET recycling and traceability, supports the EU's circular economy objectives and addresses fragmentation challenges highlighted by industry stakeholders.
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