News

Germany currently has no state reserves of critical raw materials and therefore no strategic buffer against potential shortages. Whilst Berlin is working on an EU solution, the question of establishing its own reserves remains unresolved for the time being.

The PPWR is set to increase demand for recycled plastics across Europe. Now, leading recycling associations are calling for these mandatory recycled-content quotas to be met primarily with materials recycled in Europe.

Europe's electronic waste contains valuable raw materials worth billions of euros. Yet much of this potential remains untapped because too few devices are collected, repaired, or recycled.

Amazon is significantly reducing the use of plastic in its shipping packaging while increasing its use of paper-based solutions. The move highlights a growing trend in e-commerce: packaging optimisation is becoming an important factor for cost control, sustainability, and compliance.

More than 45 organisations are calling on the EU to extend exemptions for certain mercury-containing UV lamps. Their concern is that suitable alternatives are not yet available, especially for animal welfare and conservation purposes.

The new EU packaging rules are creating additional bureaucracy and costs, especially for smaller businesses. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, is therefore calling for simpler rules and more flexibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) is facing criticism over its bureaucracy and costs. A parliamentary group in Hamburg is calling for the rules to be fundamentally revised. Its aim is to support the circular economy without making European companies less competitive.

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) creates additional hurdles for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It can make shipping to other EU countries more difficult and costly. Many associations and retailers are therefore calling for simpler, uniform and proportionate rules, as well as exemptions for SMEs.

High-voltage batteries involved in accidents present garages with new legal and financial challenges regarding storage, transport and cost allocation. A new practical guide from the BIV explains who bears the costs and how garages can organise the legally required take-back process in a legally compliant manner.

JD.com's planned takeover of Ceconomy is emerging as a key test of the EU's stance on Chinese companies and state support. As the European Commission reviews the deal, cooperation from China is becoming harder to secure.