New Categories Announced for The RECOUP Awards 2025 – Submit Your Entries Now!       

Entries are now open for The RECOUP Awards 2025, recognising outstanding achievements in plastics resource efficiency and recycling, contributing towards a more circular plastics value chain. With new categories added for 2025, the awards aim to recognise and celebrate the innovative and inspiring projects and initiatives that have helped to drive the industry forward and lead to a more sustainable future.

The awards are FREE to enter with entries welcome from all relevant organisations and individuals looking to be recognised for their work and initiatives under the following award categories:

• Plastics Industry Champion
• Plastics Circularity Project of the Year
• Best Innovation in Equipment or Technology
• Best Plastic Product Development for Recyclability or Re-Use
• Recycled Plastic Product of the Year

To find out more about the awards categories and apply for the awards, please visit the RECOUP website https://www.recoup.org/recoup-awards-2025/ and complete the entry form by the 27 June 2025 deadline. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact RECOUP at enquiry@recoup.org . The winners will be announced at The RECOUP Awards Ceremony and Networking Dinner on Wednesday 24 September, at the Holiday Inn Peterborough – West. Spaces for the dinner are limited with tickets already on sale through the RECOUP website https://www.recoup.org/recoup-awards-2025/ .

The RECOUP Awards Ceremony and Networking Dinner is followed by The RECOUP Conference on Thursday 25 September with sponsors including WRAP and Ecosurety. Registrations are now open for the day-long event, once again being held at Kingsgate Conference Centre, Peterborough.  Attracting hundreds of delegates each year The RECOUP Conference draws together stakeholders, NGOs, Local and National Government bodies and organisations from across the plastics and wider sustainability value chain, to network, share best practice, and get the latest updates from the plastics value chain.

Attendance remains FREE to members, with early-bird discounts available to non-members for a limited time only. To book your ticket for The RECOUP Conference please visit the RECOUP website, https://www.recoup.org/news-events/the-recoup-conference-2025/.

Sponsorship packages are still available for both the awards and conference, offering organisations an invaluable opportunity to showcase their products and services in front of the most influential people in the plastics resource and recycling value chain. For more information about sponsorship packages, contact RECOUP Events and Membership Manager, Rebecca Davis, rebecca.davis@RECOUP.org

The RECOUP Summit: The Challenge of Future Advancements

Focusing on developments in technology that will help to drive improvements in the plastics recycling and resource efficiency value chain, The RECOUP Summit is a new event on the RECOUP calendar. Sponsored by WRAP and Ecosurety, The RECOUP Summit takes place on 30 April 2025 at The Met Hotel in Leeds, consisting of focused breakout rooms in the morning followed by a collaborative session in the afternoon, and plenty of time for networking. With an exciting line up of speakers already announced the day is set to see many insightful discussions taking place – it really is an event not to be missed!

Attendees can choose between the following breakout sessions:

• Understanding the Role of Data in the Circular Economy 

This session will examine the importance of data collection in advancing the circular economy, highlighting the function of accurate data in helping deliver the changes that are needed. Looking at how different technologies can add value , whether that is for waste tracking or reuse systems.

Speakers:

Sophie Walker, CEO & Co-Founder, Dsposal

Rachel Warren, CEO, re-universe

Will Addy, Chief Commercial Officer, Polytag

• The Role of Technology in Advancing Recycling Processes 

Technological innovations are profoundly changing the recycling sector. This session will explore the effects of chemical recycling and advancements in technology that are transforming the recycling industry.

Speakers:

Dr Geoff Brighty, Head of Sustainability, Mura Technology

Emmeline Aves, Commercial Manager, ReVentas

Samuel Pine, Head of Customer Delivery, Greyparrot

• Food Contact Packaging – Technology Solutions for the Future

Food contact plastic packaging plays a crucial role in enhancing the recycled content in high end applications. This session will explore possibilities and innovations in this space.

Speakers:

Jeremy Blake, Director of Circular Economy, Berry Global

David Bargery, Managing Director, Regis Machinery

Professor Edward Kosior, CEO & Founder, Nextek Ltd

Rebecca Davis, RECOUP’s Membership & Events Manager, comments “With the continued success of The RECOUP Conference and the reoccurring demand for more in depth discussions on technological developments, The RECOUP Summit will bring together a variety of high calibre speakers from the industry. Focusing on three important areas, The RECOUP Summit provides an invaluable opportunity to hear the latest insights and help shape the future of technological advancement in the recycling and resource efficiency value chain”

Tickets for The RECOUP Summit are limited to only 40 spaces per session! To view the full agenda and book your ticket, please visit the RECOUP website https://www.recoup.org/news-events/the-recoup-summit/. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact RECOUP at enquiry@recoup.org.

Winners Announced for The 2024 RECOUP Awards

After receiving a record number of entries showcasing the amazing work being done throughout the plastics value chain in the areas of re-use, recycling and re-design, RECOUP have announced the winners of this years awards. Taking place the evening before the highly anticipated RECOUP Conference, the awards generated a lot of interest from across the plastics resources and recycling value chain with strong entries received for all categories.

Presented by Stuart Foster, CEO at RECOUP, the first winner announced was for the ‘Best Innovation in Equipment or Technology’ award which was presented to Polytag and Ocado Retail for their Rewards for Recycling initiative. This initiative encourages recycling by giving Ocado customers the opportunity to claim 20p rewards for recycling their own-brand two and four-pint milk bottles by using Polytags QR codes.

The winner of the second award for ‘Best Plastic Product Development for Recyclability or Re-Use’ was presented to Berry Global for their partnership with Abel & Cole, a pioneer in sustainable food delivery, to supply bottles for its Club Zero Refillable Milk delivery service. The new polypropylene (PP) bottles can be refilled up to 16 times before being recycled, reducing the carbon footprint of single-use milk bottles by half.

The third winner announced was for the ‘Recycled Plastic Product of the Year’ award which was presented to Morph Bricks Ltd. This is a closed loop modular construction system turning plastic waste into fully adaptable furniture and fit-out solutions that can be repurposed and re-engineered multiple times.

Nominated by the team at RECOUP, the Award of Recognition went to Jim Armstrong, Chairman of the RECOUP Board. Jim has provided help and support across many different activities within the team and for RECOUP members over the past year. His unwavering passion in the pursuit of plastic circularity in the UK and internationally is recognised by many.

The RECOUP Awards was followed by the RECOUP Conference.  Throughout the day a number of speakers identified that many of the challenges and opportunities are well understood and we now collectively have to move forward within the context of new policy developments and environmental expectations both in the UK and globally. There was also agreement that things aren’t happening fast enough, and the value chain really needs to work together to make progress quicker and better than previously. The role of the consumer was also a common theme throughout the day, both in terms of their role in delivering change, and in how we bring them on the sustainable plastic journey.

Stuart Foster, CEO of RECOUP, commented “With continued focus on the policy and practical aspects of plastics and wider climate and sustainability issues, the day was genuinely interesting and very timely around a range of priority areas. Once again the RECOUP conference and dinner was a resounding success, I would like to thank all the speakers, delegates, exhibitors, and awards entrants for their involvement and support.”

Congratulations to the award winners and thank you to the judges and all the entries this year. We need more innovation and development to get us to where we need to be and create a more sustainable future, don’t miss out on submitting an entry next year, the application process alongside dinner and conference details will be announced in due course.

Shortlist Announced for The RECOUP Awards After Receiving Record Number of Entries

RECOUP are delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2024 RECOUP Awards. Congratulations to the shortlisted entries, and thank you to all the companies who entered. We were delighted to receive so many submissions for all three categories, showcasing the amazing work being done throughout the plastics value chain.

**Announcing the shortlist for the RECOUP awards:**

Best Plastic Product Development for Recyclability or Re-Use

Berry Global: Abel & Cole Club Zero Refillable Milk

Berry Global: Omni® Xtra+ PE Film

Capri-Sun GmbH: Mono-material beverage pouch

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland: K3® r100

Best Innovation in Equipment or Technology

Cauli Ltd: CauliKiosk – AI-powered reverse vending for reusable plastics

Ellipsis Earth Ltd: AI waste platform

Polytag and Ocado Retail: Rewards for Recycling

TOMRA Recycling: GAINnextTM – an enabler of food-grade sorting

Recycled Plastic Product of the Year

Aldi UK: All Ambient Soft Drinks, Waters, Dilutes

Brookfield Drinks: NEO WTR

Morph Bricks Ltd: Morph

Free The Sea (On behalf of Nestlé): Nescafé Dolce Gusto Neo

Sponsored by REMONDIS, the RECOUP Awards Recognise and celebrate excellence in plastics resource efficiency and recycling and organisations leading a more circular plastics value chain, the winners will be unveiled on 25 September, during the highly anticipated RECOUP Awards Ceremony & Networking Dinner. Promising a unique opportunity for attendees to establish connections, applaud industry accomplishments, and pave the way for collaborative efforts. To book your place at the Awards & Pre-Conference Networking Dinner, please visit  – The RECOUP Awards 2024

The awards are followed by RECOUP’s not-to-be-missed event of the year, The RECOUP Conference, which is held at Kingsgate Conference Centre, Peterborough on Thursday 26 September. Sponsored by Berry Global, WRAP, ReZorce® Zotefoams, and others, the RECOUP Conference attracts delegates from the entire plastics and wider sustainability value chain. With hundreds of delegates in attendance The RECOUP Conference is unique in its ability to draw together NGOs, Local and National Government bodies, and companies from all stages of the plastics value chain to network, share best practice and stay ahead of our everchanging landscape. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest updates from the plastics value chain at the event of the year!

To book your place at the Conference, please visit – The RECOUP Conference 2024

The International Composites Summit Unveils its Two-Day Speaker Programme

The International Composites Summit (ICS), the UK’s only 100% composites focused exhibition, takes place at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes from 4 – 5 September.

Dedicated to the advancement and celebration of composite materials in the UK, ICS is a platform designed to connect, educate, and inspire industry professionals across the entire composites spectrum.

To compliment the show’s aims, which are to showcase the latest ground-breaking solutions, industry innovations, manufacturing advancements and business opportunities, the International Composites Summit is pleased to announce its two-day speaker programme, set across two stages, housing some of the most influential individuals in the composites industry globally.

Some of the notable speakers on the Sustainability Stage include Network Rail, Aerospace Technology Group, JEC, Sustainable Sailing, Owens Corning, the European Composites Industry Association, ADS, Make UK and more, covering key themes such as:

• Recycling initiatives in the UK, the German perspective and Europe as a whole.
• Circularity in aerospace, marine & infrastructure.
• Global trends and the strategic direction of the UK industry.
• The future of biomaterials and high-performance use of sustainable composites.

Sustainability Stage speaker, David Morgan, Chief Strategy Officer of Carbon Rivers said: “Carbon Rivers is quite excited to contribute to the robust conversations at ICS 2024 involving sustainability and circular economies for the global composite industry. Technology and industry have advanced to the extent that we never have to landfill post-industrial or post-consumer composite materials again. The decommissioned wind blade, composite boat, or automotive scrap can now be a new blade, boat, or car for manufacturing today, and not a decade from now.”

Amongst the notable speakers on the Innovation Stage include Richard Noble OBE and representatives from the National Composites Centre, Scott Bader, Hydrogen UK, San Diego State University, Loop Technology and AMRC. The Innovation stage will look at:

• Material, process and tooling developments.
• The hydrogen economy.
• Innovation and sustainable manufacturing.
• Workforce development.
• The ThrustWSH and ASCEND projects.

Presenting on Building Sustainable Aircraft Wings, Loop Technology’s Project Director, Ian Redman said of the opportunity: “Loop Technology is delighted to be attending the International Composites Summit, a vibrant event that brings together leaders in the composites industry and highlights the latest innovation. I am thrilled to be presenting on ‘Building Sustainable Aircraft Wings’ and how our FibreLINE accelerates that process.”

The full programme of talks is available now. All the presentations on the Sustainability and Innovation stages are open to attend and can be accessed by registering for ICS free-of-charge on the show website: www.internationalcompositessummit.com.