19-20 November 2025 – hybrid event, Cologne (Germany)
Alongside core-topics like plastics and polymer recycling, this year’s program explores new developments in biochemical, textile and automotive recycling, plus digital tools supporting scalable solutions for circular systems.
++ Final programme ++ Already 135 participants registered, > 250 expected ++ Already 13 exhibitors – book you booth now! ++
| On 19-20 November 2025, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) in Cologne, Germany, once more unites industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators, and policy-makers to address urgent recycling challenges in various waste-streams. Alongside core-topics like plastics and polymer recycling, this year’s event places strong emphasis on pollution-intensive sectors like textile and automotive, that pose significant environmental problems due to their complex material streams. While textile recycling rates in the EU remain below 20 %, hindered by difficult fibre blends, automotive plastics und rubbers face regulatory pressure and material complexity under the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive. |
Session “Depolymerisation Technologies for PU, PET, and PS”
This session covers a range of different depolymerisation technologies capable of turning PU-, PET-, or PS- waste into monomers that can be utilised to produce new polymers or intermediates for the production of other materials and chemicals.
David Rapp KraussMaffei Extrusion (DE) | Chemical Recycling of Polyurethane Foams Abstract |
Christine Weiß Evonik Operations (DE) | Polyurethane Recycling: Key Influences and Challenges in the Circular Economy Abstract |
André Heeres Hanze (NL) | Upcycling of PET-containing Waste Streams Towards Terephtalamide and BTX Aromatics: A Novel Example of a Plastic Refinery! Abstract |
Joeri Dieltjens Sulzer Chemtech (CH) | EcoStyrene(TM) – Enabling Circularity for Contaminated Polystyrene Waste Abstract |
Full conference programme available
Packed with international expertise, ARC 2025 features experts from a broad range of sectors and industries, e.g., BASF, Covestro, Evonik, Fluor, Green Dot, ISCC, LEGO, LyondellBasell, NFIA, Siemens, Sulzer, Trinseo, Vaude, but also research and academic institutions like Chalmers University of Technology, Fraunhofer IVV, Research Centre Jülich, Recycario Data Science – Institut for Economic Plastics Recycling and TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering).
While putting a focus on plastics and polymers, the programme provides a comprehensive overview in different focus-sessions:
- Advanced Recycling as a Pillar of Renewable Carbon and its Challenges
- Thermochemical Recycling
- Biochemical Recycling
- Textile Sorting and Recycling
- From Py-Oil Quality to Valuable Resources and the Chain of Custody in Advanced Recycling
- Recycling Solutions for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV)
- Sustainable Polymers
- Thermochemical Solutions for the Recovery of Valuable Resources and Energy
- Physical Recycling via Dissolution
