Industry News

Member Updates:

Refurbr Network launches as Circular Connect's official Technology Trading Partner. The new platform connects verified businesses to buy and sell device stock, source services and trade directly without transaction commissions. Circular Connect members also benefit from a 25% membership discount. Read more.

Blancco unveils agentic AI platform to transform IT asset lifecycle management. Blancco Blue combines secure data erasure, intelligent automation and lifecycle reporting, drawing on insights from over 500 million certified erasures to streamline device processing and operational workflows. Read more.

Early Upgrade and LoopOS launch itadOS, a unified operating platform for ITAD businesses. Developed collaboratively, the platform integrates asset intake, logistics, processing, settlement and compliance documentation, helping ITAD operators streamline workflows and improve asset traceability. Read more.

Collaborations and Partnerships:

ThredUp expands partnership with Pact and Fillogic to accelerate fashion resale. The integration brings Pact's secondhand clothing directly to ThredUp's 1.7 million active buyers, with Fillogic automating grading, listing and fulfilment to move returned inventory into resale within days. Read more.

WRAP launches industry collaboration to transform UK textile collections. Backed by Next, Primark and Tesco, the Textiles Collections Transition Programme aims to improve reuse and recycling, tackling the estimated 750,000 tonnes of textiles entering household waste annually. Read more.

Business Developments:

Deutsche Telekom introduces circularity measurement framework targeting 2030. Its Telco Circularity Score uses 14 metrics to track device reuse, refurbishment and recycling, supporting its ambition to achieve near-total circularity by 2030, with potential adoption across the telecoms industry. Read more.

CTR Group launches ZOA Group, uniting four circular retail businesses under one platform. Combining Hirestreet, Thrift+, Wowzer and Reuseabook, the group has facilitated over 10 million secondhand transactions across 20 sales channels, with two further acquisitions planned before the end of 2026. Read more.

Patagonia integrates Worn Wear resale programme into its main online store. Customers can now purchase new and secondhand products in a single transaction, following the integration of its resale operations in-house. Worn Wear generated approximately $13m in net sales from nearly 160,000 items in FY2026. Read more.

Zalando deploys AI-powered robots to automate fashion returns across Europe. Working with Sereact and CEVA Logistics, the retailer has introduced robotic systems at facilities in Germany and Poland to identify, handle and sort returned clothing, with plans to expand automation across its European network. Read more.

Ingram Micro targets 10–12% annual growth in its technology lifecycle business through 2029. The company is leveraging its AI-enabled Xvantage platform and ServiceNow integration to connect technology procurement with ITAD, refurbishment and reverse logistics services across its global network. Read more.

Market and Regional Developments:

AI-driven shopping could trigger a new wave of retail returns, research warns. A MACH Alliance survey of over 1,000 UK consumers found that 56% believe AI exaggerates product expectations, while 45% say unrealistic AI-generated expectations would make them more likely to return purchases. Read more.

Retail returns expected to surge as traditional Christmas lull disappears. Analysis from ReBound Returns shows peak returns volumes rose 23% year-on-year in December 2025 and 24% in January 2026, signalling sustained pressure on retail and reverse logistics operations throughout the upcoming festive season. Read more.

EU e-waste collection rate reaches just 39%, falling well short of 65% target. Latest Eurostat figures show that 12.3 kg of electronic waste was collected per person in 2024, compared with 32.4 kg of new electrical equipment entering the market, highlighting Europe's growing recovery challenge. Read more.

Investment News

M&A:

Iron Mountain acquires US ITAD specialist ViaTeK Solutions. The acquisition brings three facilities across Clearwater, Atlanta and Phoenix into its global asset lifecycle management operations, adding further capacity and specialist electronics recycling expertise. Read more.

Investment and Financing:

Closed Loop Partners provides multi-million-dollar loan to expand US recycling infrastructure. The financing supports Pro Disposal's new 40,000 sq ft Pennsylvania facility, quadrupling processing capacity to 20 tons per hour through automated sorting technology. Read more.

Ruit raises €880,000 to develop recommerce technology for European retailers. Led by Abac Nest, the pre-seed funding will support development of its platform for secondhand retailers, automating inventory management, multichannel sales and pricing while supporting international expansion. Read more.

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