Industry news

Industry news Germany was the ‘largest plastic waste exporter’ in 2025, research finds Germany was the largest exporter of plastic waste in 2025, closely followed by the UK, according to new research published in the Guardian. Circular Online (CIWM) · 12 May 2026 Industry news BGMEA signs twin supply chain deals BGMEA has signed separate agreements with GIZ and Open Supply Hub to cover sustainability, transparency, traceability and compliance in Bangladesh’s […] Ecotextile News · 12 May 2026 Industry news New figures confirm steel packaging achieves record EU recycling rate STEEL for Packaging Europe (SfPE) has confirmed that steel packaging has achieved a new record EU recycling rate. The latest figures, calculated using the EU’s harmonised methodology which is said to accurately reflect the amount of packaging recycled at the entrance of recycling operations, show that 84% of steel packaging placed on the market was […] Packaging Scotland · 12 May 2026 Industry news 20/20 Project Management Training to Deliver ACTIVE Cup Project Management Competition The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has awarded the contract to deliver the ACTIVE Cup project management competition to 20/20 Project Management Training. The training company will deliver its first modernised version of the popular competition 16-18 November 2026. 20/20 Project Management Training specialises in project management, project controls and project leaders… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Epson named CitySwitch Champion Epson Australia has been recognised as a CitySwitch Champion for the third consecutive year. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Canon retreats from Philippine manufacturing Printer demand weakness forces Japanese electronics group into deeper Asian industrial retrenchment. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Data focus at debut US textiles recycling expo Strong turnout in Charlotte highlights how data, sorting technology and standards are shaping the next phase of US textile circularity […] Ecotextile News · 12 May 2026 Industry news SCENTS OF SUMMER – ALDI LAUNCHES NEW MEDITERRANEAN HOME FRAGRANCE RANGE FROM JUST £3.99 With summer on the horizon, shoppers can get their homes smelling holiday-ready with Aldi’s NEW Mediterranean candle and diffuser range, hitting middle aisles from 21st May. Featuring aromas inspired by classic Mediterranean elements, the collection brings a relaxing coastal escape straight into homes – no passport required. The Mediterranean Candles & Diffusers (£3.99, 200g/100ml) feature […] … Aldi UK Press Centre · 12 May 2026 Industry news Johnnie Walker unveils a limited-edition 24-year-old whisky for FIFA World Cup Johnnie Walker has unveiled a special edition 24-year-old whisky in Brazil to commemorate the FIFA World Cup 2026. The concept behind the bottle was inspired by the gap between the… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Paymentology raises £129.4m to continue its global expansion Paymentology has closed a $175m (£129.4m) funding round to support its ongoing global expansion, product development and the strengthening of its team. The firm is a next-generation issuer processor, supporting fintechs, digital banks and retail banks to launch and manage payment solutions on a global scale. Paymentology says much of the issuing layer of the […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Islands8 launches watermelon variant with Bluemarlin design Maltese gin brand Islands8 has just launched a watermelon with a new design by Bluemarlin. Packaging News (UK) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Court rules that Enviro reorganisation shall continue There’s been hardly a dull moment for Swedish pyrolysis tyre recycling specialist Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (Enviro) since applying for company restructuring in February 2026 and then, in March, terminating agreements relating to the Infiniteria joint venture. In mid-April, Infiniteria filed a request with the Gothenburg District Court to stop Enviro’s ongoing company reorganisation. The p… Tyrepress · 12 May 2026 Industry news Why all industry stakeholders should be in the room at Auto Recycling Intelligence 2026 Industry stakeholders should attend Auto Recycling Intelligence 2026 to understand how regulation, EV batteries, insurer behaviour, OEM circularity strategies, AI and green parts demand will reshape end-of-life vehicle management. ATF Professional · 12 May 2026 Industry news UK fire brigades tackle one lithium-ion fire every five hours The number of lithium-ion battery fires attended by UK fire services has risen by 147% since 2022, with brigades now tackling the equivalent of one battery-related fire every five hours. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from global insurer QBE found that fire services are now responding to an average of 4.8 lithium-ion battery fires … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 12 May 2026 Industry news Modular Clean Air Strengthens Position as Part of Total Clean Air Modular Clean Air (MCA) is now wholly owned by Total Clean Air (TCA), marking the next phase in its development following its successful launch as a joint venture in 2025. Originally established to bring together modular construction and cleanroom expertise, MCA has quickly built momentum within sectors where speed, compliance and precision are critical. Now operating as TCA’s dedicated modular… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 12 May 2026 Industry news The EU continues to strengthen water protection rules to tackle pollution The European Union has introduced stronger water protection laws that will improve water quality, reduce pollution, and make Europe more resilient to future environmental challenges. Open Access Government — Environment · 12 May 2026 Industry news SECO Opens Pre-Order for Modular Vision 10.1 MX95 SECO announces the official opening of pre-orders for the Modular Vision 10.1 MX95, the new industrial HMI platform first unveiled at embedded world 2026 and powered by the NXP i.MX 95 applications processor. As part of the launch program, DigiKey will offer the product in exclusive limited distribution at the introductory launch price of $470.40, providing OEMs and developers with early access… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 12 May 2026 Industry news New Delta T1 Sport Redefines Compact Motorsport Driving Simulators With the launch of the Delta T1 Sport, leading Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulator manufacturer, Ansible Motion, introduces the first in a new class of motorsport simulators that offers high-fidelity dynamics, ultra-low latency and a fully immersive experience – all within a compact footprint and accessible price point. Lola Cars will receive the first production unit to support its vehicle deve… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Acquisition complete – Clarios expands European recycling footprint Clarios has finalised its acquisition of three battery recycling centres in Germany and Austria from Ecobat. With all regulatory approvals now finalised, Clarios is integrating recycling operations in Freiberg and Braubach, Germany, and Arnoldstein, Austria, substantially increasing its ability to recover critical materials, including lead and polypropylene, and reuse them in the production of … Tyrepress · 12 May 2026 Industry news Packsize announces key appointments in the UK and Europe Packsize, the sustainable, on-demand packaging specialist, has announced a series of appointments to support its expansion in the UK and Europe. Packaging News (UK) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Waitrose to trial smart cabinets for champagne and premium spirits amid shoplifting surge Waitrose is set to trial smart locking cabinets for champagne and premium spirits as the supermarket steps up efforts to tackle shoplifting across its stores. The upmarket grocer has told… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Convenience store operator Samy Group secures £15m for expansion The convenience store and forecourt operator for brands including Londis, Morrisons and Budgens is set to expand its national estate after securing a £15m funding package from HSBC UK. The… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Goplasticpallets.com breaks monthly recycling records Goplasticpallets.com, the provider of sustainable plastic pallets and boxes, has announced that it “smashed” its monthly recycling total as the company continues its mission to create greener supply chains. Packaging News (UK) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Fifth Dimension raises £19.2m to scale its decision intelligence platform London-based Fifth Dimension has raised $26m (£19.2m) to accelerate its expansion across the US and Asia Pacific, including a new Singapore office, and deepen the platform’s agentic AI capabilities for real asset investment decisions. Fifth Dimension powers investment decisions by unifying fragmented institutional and market data into a single intelligence layer. This is achieved with […] The p… UKTN (UK Tech News) · 12 May 2026 Industry news Nature on the King’s Agenda The UK Government’s first national security assessment on biodiversity loss, published in January, should have been a political watershed that changed how we think about nature policy. Developed with input from the Joint Intelligence Committee, MI5 and MI6, the assessment was unambiguous in its conclusion that ecosystem collapse is a direct threat to UK food […] Environment Journal · 12 May 2026 Industry news Winner of 12-year Kent recycling and waste contract announced FCC Environment has won a 12-year contract to manage the recycling and waste for two Kent borough councils. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council jointly awarded the contract to the waste management company – which is the council’s current provider. The new contract is set to begin for an initial 12-year … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 12 May 2026 Industry news Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief target £30m fundraising push to tackle childhood food poverty Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief have launched the next phase of their long-running partnership, setting a target to raise £30m by 2030 to support families facing food insecurity across the UK.… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Linglong terminates Tongchuan factory plan; delays for Anhui and Brazil projects Linglong Tire is cancelling its investment in a tyre factory in Tongchuan City, China. The company has also warned that progress on its Anhui project in China has fallen behind the original schedule, while its proposed Brazil factory investment remains subject to ongoing negotiations. Tyrepress · 12 May 2026 Industry news BRC finds April retail sales fell as uncertainty dented spending UK retail sales fell in April as the later timing of Easter distorted year-on-year comparisons and weak consumer confidence weighed on discretionary spending, new BRC research claims. Total retail sales… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Co-op doubles down on high streets with 24-store investment push Co-op is set to launch 24 new and refurbished stores during its second quarter. It said the openings will include new stores, refurbished shops reopening after “transformative investment”, and further… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Macfarlane reports unchanged full year expectations in trading update Macfarlane Group the protective packaging specialist, will today hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which Aleen Gulvanessian, chair, will provide a trading update covering 2026 to date. Packaging News (UK) · 12 May 2026 Industry news The Balvenie unveils Daniel Arsham collaboration for limited-edition whisky collection The Balvenie has teamed up with artist Daniel Arsham for a major new creative partnership celebrating the craft behind its single malt whisky. The collaboration, titled The Dawn of Our… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Calls for a Clean Air Act as rural pollution rivals that in cities The Healthy Air Coalition is calling on the government to introduce a new Clean Air Act, aligned with WHO guidelines and with legally binding targets robust enough to match the scale of the public health challenge. Ahead of the King’s Speech, the coalition, which is made up of more than 30 leading health and clean […] Air Quality News · 12 May 2026 Industry news Greggs sales rise as chicken roll proves hit with shoppers Greggs has reported a 3.3 per cent rise in sales in recent weeks, helped by the launch of its new chicken roll, but warned prolonged conflict in the Middle East… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news The Christmas Table Is Changing. Is Your Shelf Ready? The British Christmas drinks market is undergoing its most profound transformation in a generation. Three converging forces are reshaping what sits on the festive table: a structural decline in alcohol… Grocery Gazette · 12 May 2026 Industry news Atlilium Contributes to UK-Germany Critical Minerals Collaboration Altilium welcomes the establishment of the UK-Germany Critical Minerals Policy Exchange, an important step forward in strengthening Europe’s economic resilience and securing the critical raw materials needed for the energy transition. As recognised in a joint statement by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle and German Minister for Economic Affairs and [...] Altilium news · 12 May 2026 Industry news ‘It’s so full of love’, the festival for young carers For one weekend a year, the Young Carers Festival helps them swap adult responsibilities for the simple joy of being a child Positive News · 12 May 2026 Industry news Bekaert names Biebuyck CEO Olivier Biebuyck will become the new Chief Executive Officer of Bekaert from 1 June 2026, succeeding Yves Kerstens, who has served in this role since 1 September 2023. Biebuyck will also join the company’s Board of Directors from that date, with Kerstens stepping down as Director. Tyrepress · 12 May 2026 Industry news We won! The Great Gas Rip Off is finally ending The UK government is finally delinking gas and electricity prices — a major win driven by people power. Here's what changed and what comes next. Greenpeace UK · 12 May 2026 Industry news How satellite IoT can enhance remote water system monitoring How data is monitored is changing across the water sector. It is no longer something that is merely collected for compliance and reviewed periodically. It is being examined more closely, and more often, by a wider set of stakeholders. Regulators are asking more of it, the public is seeing more of it, and when incidents occur, it […] Environment Journal · 12 May 2026