It’s been a busy week! Let’s get stuck in.

Industry News

Collaborations and Partnerships 🤝:

ReturnPro partners with Clarity to bring AI fraud detection to retail returns. ReturnPro has partnered with Clarity to deploy AI-powered item intelligence across returns processing. The technology aims to detect counterfeit, altered, or fraudulent items in seconds, reducing reliance on manual inspection. Read more.

Poshmark tests “Worry-Free” returns to simplify resale. The resale marketplace is partnering with Seel to pilot a programme that streamlines returns for buyers and sellers. The initiative aims to reduce friction in peer-to-peer recommerce by managing returns end-to-end. Read more.

BMW Group and PreZero partner to advance circularity in Europe’s automotive sector. BMW has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with PreZero to expand circular economy practices across vehicle production, recycling and materials sourcing. Read more.

BMW Group and Encory launch direct recycling to recover battery raw materials. BMW and Encory have partnered to deploy an innovative direct recycling process that recovers lithium, nickel and other key battery materials from end-of-life electric vehicle cells. Read more.

Royal Mint and Procurri team up to recover precious metals from IT assets. The UK’s Royal Mint has partnered with global ITAD provider Procurri to strengthen recovery of precious and critical metals from end-of-life IT equipment. The collaboration aims to capture value from devices that would otherwise go to waste. Read more.

Invista and Epoch Biodesign team up to scale post-consumer nylon 6,6. Invista has signed an MOU with Epoch Biodesign to support the commercialisation of post-consumer recycled nylon 6,6. The collaboration will focus on sourcing, processing and scaling recycled feedstock for high-performance applications. Read more.

Goodthings Foundation and Reconome will deliver 85,000 refurbished devices across the UK. The partnership will provide laptops and tablets to thousands of people facing digital exclusion, demonstrating how refurbishment can drive social impact at scale. Read more.

Company Updates 🔎:

Samsung expands Care+ in Europe with unlimited repairs. The company has enhanced its Care+ offering, adding an unlimited repairs option alongside wider accidental damage coverage. The move supports longer device lifecycles by making repair a simpler default for customers. Read more.

Back Market clears $3.5bn in 2025 GMV. The refurbished tech marketplace reported gross merchandise value of $3.5bn in 2025 as AI and cloud tools help drive demand for pre-owned devices. The business highlighted continued interest from consumers and enterprises seeking cost-effective refurbished tech. Read more.

Repair Café Wales has saved more than one million kilograms of CO₂ through community repair. The Welsh Government-backed initiative says the milestone has been achieved by fixing items instead of throwing them away, highlighting the climate impact of extending product lifetimes through repair. Read more.

Bang & Olufsen launches Reloved programme to extend product life. CEO Kristian Tear says the hi-fi brand’s new Reloved initiative focuses on responsible design and extending the life of premium products through refurbishment and resale, offering certified servicing and parts. Read more.

Stella McCartney unveils a world first plant-based feather alternative. The brand has introduced Fevvers, a plant-derived alternative designed to replicate the look and feel of feathers without animal inputs. The innovation features in the Spring/Summer 2026 collection and supports lower impact, cruelty-free fashion. Read more.

Advanced Fuel Partners plans a 144,000 tonne anaerobic digestion facility. The company has submitted proposals for a biodegradable energy plant at the former Skipton-on-Swale Airfield near Thirsk, England. The site would process agricultural waste to generate biomethane and capture carbon dioxide. Read more.

Tersus Solutions expands leadership as circular textile demand grows. Tersus has added new executives to its leadership team amid rising global interest in circular textile technologies. The hires aim to strengthen commercial strategy and accelerate deployment of the company’s textile recycling and recovery solutions. Read more.

Enva commits to the UK’s largest fridge recycling facility. Enva has signed a pre-let for a 124,000 sq ft fridge recycling site in Dartford, Kent. The facility is designed to process up to 35,000 tonnes of end-of-life fridges per year, expanding capacity across London and the South East. Read more.

Regional Developments 🌎️:

EU auditors warn Europe may miss critical metals targets. The European Court of Auditors says the EU remains heavily reliant on imports and lacks sufficient recycling capacity for key materials, highlighting gaps in domestic recovery and infrastructure needed to meet future demand. Read more.

Zero Waste Europe urges stronger EPR rules for food products. The organisation has published recommendations for the EU’s Circular Economy Act, calling for more ambitious Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. The proposals focus on improving collection, reuse and recycling while reducing waste. Read more.

Agilyx pivots its plastics recycling strategy toward Europe. The company is restructuring to reduce capex and focus resources on scaling GreenDot, its European recycling platform. Agilyx will also take full ownership of Cyclyx International as part of the reorganisation. Read more.

Malaysia shuts the door on imported e-waste. The government has announced an immediate ban on electronic waste imports, reclassifying e-waste under “absolute prohibition”. Officials said the move is designed to stop Malaysia becoming a dumping ground for hazardous waste. Read more.

Investment News

M&A 💰️:

Papilo acquires Allwood to create a £60m+ recycling group. Palatine-backed Papilo has acquired Allwood Recycling Solutions, creating a combined business of 200+ employees and more than £60m in annual revenues. The deal expands Papilo’s national footprint across recycling and waste services. Read more.

Venture and Growth Capital 📈:

French climate investor SlateVC raises €132m for inaugural growth fund. SlateVC has secured €132 million in capital for the first close of its new climate and sustainability-focused growth fund. The fund will back European scale-ups across energy transition, decarbonisation, and circularity. Read more.

Cork launches new grant funding to support local circular projects. Cork County Council has opened applications for its 2026 Circular Economy Fund. The scheme will provide grants to community groups, businesses and organisations delivering projects across reuse, repair, recycling and resource efficiency. Read more.

🌲 Help us plant 2,000 trees in 2026 and share Circular Connect far and wide 🙏 

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you again on Monday.

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy