ECONOMY AND MARKET
ITALY ON THE PODIUM IN AMSTERDAM
Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026: De’ Longhi and Parmalat Lead the Circular Revolution.
The 10th-anniversary edition of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe( PRSE) in Amsterdam was not merely a celebration of the past, but a manifesto for the future. In a delicate economic period for the European polymer value chain, the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026 sent a clear message: integrating recycled materials into complex, large-scale applications is no longer an experimental challenge, but an established industrial reality. In this landscape, Italian excellence played a leading role.
Italian technology plast / June-July 2026
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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: THE ENGI- NEERING PLASTICS CHALLENGE One of the most prestigious awards of the evening, the Automotive, Electrical or Electronic Product of the Year category, was granted to the Eletta Ultra coffee machine, developed by De’ Longhi Appliances S. r. l. in collaboration with Sirmax S. p. A. The technical value of this recognition lies in the complexity of the product. Utilizing green compounds in a household appliance that must guarantee thermal resistance, mechanical durability, and aesthetic compliance is an operation requiring high-level chemical and engineering expertise. T he jury praised the ability of these two Italian companies to scale the use of recycled materials in a“ premium” product, proving that sustainability does not have to compromise the quality perceived by the consumer.
FOOD PACKAGING: TOWARD THE 2030 MILESTONE The packaging sector saw a triumph for Parmalat S. p. A., awarded for its 50 % rPET white opaque bottle for UHT milk. This represents a breakthrough innovation for the dairy sector, where barrier protection and the aesthetics of opaque materials have historically presented hurdles in the recycling process. The recognition given to Parmalat carries significant industrial-political weight: it demonstrates that
Tab. 1- Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026: the winners
the 50 % recycled content target is achievable even in critical food-grade applications. As highlighted by the judges, this solution concretely anticipates the requirements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation( PPWR), positioning the Italian industry as a benchmark for“ compliance-ready” packaging.
TECHNOLOGIES AND AMBASSADORS: THE STATE OF THE ART Innovation extended beyond finished products. In the machinery segment, the Recycling Machinery Innovation of the Year category was won by Erema for the Volex system, capable of
Category |
Winner |
Partners / Companies |
Automotive & Electronic |
Eletta Ultra Coffee Machine |
De’ Longhi & Sirmax( IT) |
Plastic Packaging |
50 % rPET Bottle for UHT Milk |
Parmalat( IT) |
Building & Construction |
Neular Unlimited T & G Board |
Neular OÜ |
Household & Leisure |
L-Boxx Contractor |
Bosch & LyondellBasell |
Product Technology |
Milsani rPS Dairy Cup |
ALDI & ZOTT |
Recycling Machinery |
VOLEX System |
EREMA |
Ambassadors |
M. Philipsson & A. T. Ovelgönne |
- |
drastically reducing VOC( volatile organic compounds) content and fogging, thereby increasing the purity of recycled pellets. The flagship Plastics Recycling Ambassador of the Year award was split this year, honoring Mattias Philipsson( Svensk Plaståtervinning) and Ansgar Thees Ovelgönne( THEES Kunststoffverarbeitung), two key figures who have significantly contributed to industrializing plastic waste collection and sorting across Europe.
CLOSING REMARKS“ This year’ s winners highlight how innovation is essential in the plastics recycling industry,” stated Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe.“ Progress reflects how vital plastics recycling is in building a resilient and competitive European economy.” For Italy, the success of De’ Longhi, Sirmax, and Parmalat in Amsterdam confirms the ability of our industrial system to transform regulatory constraints into business opportunities, exporting a circular economy model that blends high material engineering with commercial scalability.
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