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

Industry News

Collaborations and Partnerships 🤝:

SMX partners with CETI to embed traceability tech into advanced textile R&D. The molecular physical-to-digital fingerprinting platform will be integrated into CETI’s circularity programs, enabling fibre-level tracking and proof of material reuse. Read more.

Cyculus expands its Total Care portfolio with Apkudo-powered glass replacement tech. The new Screentech solution separates cracked glass from original display components, enabling high-quality repairs while preserving internal components, cutting costs and waste. Read more.

Circulose partners with Jilin Chemical Fiber to accelerate large-scale adoption of circular viscose yarn. The partnership integrates Circulose pulp into Jilin’s JIRECELL® filament yarn and is designed to fast-track commercial uptake of recycled cellulosics in mainstream textiles. Read more.

Ascend Elements and GEM form alliance to boost Europe’s battery circularity. The alliance will localise recycling networks in line with new EU Battery rules, integrating large-scale capacity with market access. Read more.

Borealis, Infinium, and Fullstride turn waste CO₂ into high-performance foam for sustainable fashion. They use captured CO₂ to make eNaphtha, which polymerises into foam that matches conventional fossil-fuelled performance. It’s processed via existing infrastructure and designed for scale adoption across apparel. Read more.

Company Updates 🔎:

ThredUp launches new brand identity and AI-powered features to strengthen its role in circular fashion. The resale giant is leaning into scale with tools that improve product discovery, boost seller experience, and modernise its look. Read more.

AWS partners with Molg to deploy AI robots that extend the life of data centres. Molg’s systems inspect, dismantle, and recover retired servers for reuse, resale, or recycling, keeping valuable components in play. Early results show lifespans stretched by up to two years. Read more.

Aurubis launches its $800 million copper recycling plant in Georgia. The new facility will process 180,000 tonnes of complex scrap per year, including PCBs, cables and mixed metals, to produce ~70,000 tonnes of high-purity blister copper. Read more.

ReturnPros Report reveals retailers brace for low inventory and high fraud. The report warns that supply constraints will amplify pressure on return policies, while fraud attempts are expected to spike. Retailers are planning stricter checks, smarter fraud detection systems, and higher reuse rates to protect margins. Read more.

Derichebourg opens a pioneering e-scrap recycling hub outside Paris. The €25 million facility handles boilers, refrigerators, and heavy scrap, recovering metals and plastics while capturing fluorinated gases. Read more.

Renewablade turns wind turbine blades into precast concrete products. The Iowa-based company grinds decommissioned blades into aggregate for items like barriers, retaining walls and bunkers, repurposing waste fibreglass into functional materials. Read more.

Bloom unveils first Carbon Avoidance Standard for the circular economy. The framework sets rules for measuring how much carbon is avoided when products are reused, repaired or repurposed. By standardising carbon avoidance, Bloom aims to give brands and investors clearer proof of circularity’s climate value. Read more.

Regional Updates 🌎️:

Climate Week NYC kicks off with bold pledges on circularity and resilience. Microsoft is backing low-carbon cement, Levi’s is electrifying supply chains, and Mastercard is rallying circular fintechs. Circularity is now embedded into strategic boardroom discussions. Read more.

Turkey’s Zero Waste initiative cuts 150 million tons of CO₂ and creates $6 billion in economic value. Since launching in 2017, the programme has recycled 74.5 million tonnes of waste, preserved 552 million trees, and ramped the national recycling rate from 13% to 36%. Read more.

Ireland launches public consultation on its Second Circular Economy Strategy. Minister Dillon calls on citizens, NGOs, and businesses to shape targets for waste prevention, reuse, and resource efficiency through 2030. The draft proposes stronger producer responsibility, repair-mandates, and incentives for circular design across sectors. Read more.

OfferUp’s Recommerce Report finds that 93% of Americans bought secondhand in 2025. Buyers cite fading stigma, cost savings, and local exchange as key drivers, while resale interest extends well beyond fashion into electronics, furniture, tools and many other product sets. Read more.

Investment News

M&A 💰️:

EXEO Global completes acquisition of Procurri. The deal expands EXEO’s reach across IT lifecycle services, ITAD, and sustainable IT infrastructure across APAC, the Americas, and EMEA. Read more.

eBay acquires Norway’s largest resale app. Tise combines marketplace listings with social features including likes, comments and follows, building a 2.5 million user Nordic community. The deal builds on eBay’s 2022 investment in the platform and marks a deeper push into social resale. Read more.

Actis to acquire Singapore’s leading environmental management company. The acquisition will give Actis control over 800 Super’s waste, water, and environmental services in one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. The deal aligns with Actis’s strategy to deepen exposure to circular economy assets in Asia-Pacific. Read more.

Greenbox acquires EraseIT as part of its strategic circular IT expansion. The deal adds expertise in secure data erasure, asset recovery and recycling, extending Greenbox’s footprint across Australia and New Zealand. Read more.

IWS expands in Connecticut via acquisition of North Atlantic Waste & Recycling. Interstate Waste Services has acquired North Atlantic to deepen its expertise in solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal across central and southern Connecticut. Read more.

Venture and Growth Capital 📈:

Sircel targets $200 million IPO after fresh $10 million raise. The Sydney e-waste recycler plans to use the IPO to fuel national expansion and scale solar panel recycling. Investor materials highlight strong revenue growth and new facility builds as catalysts for the offering. Read more.

DFF Ventures launches €50 million fund to back AI, recommerce and marketplace startups. The Amsterdam VC is targeting early-stage investments in vertical AI and resale platforms. The fund will support pre-product and seed-stage companies building embedded tools set to become industry infrastructure. Read more.

PDS Ventures makes further investment in Refiberd. The new backing will fund expansion of Refiberd’s AI-powered fibre identification systems and industrial pilots that convert post-consumer waste into certified recycled feedstock, enabling brands to meet circularity targets. Read more.

PeakAmp raises $1.4 million seed round to drive battery circularity in India. The startup will use the capital to expand collection networks, pilot recycling facilities, and develop tech for recovering critical metals. Read more.

5 days left to apply for ReLondon’s grants for circular innovators. The Circular Material Innovation Awards will fund and mentor startups tackling material reuse, low-carbon manufacturing and waste conversion. Winners also gain access to city testbeds to trial solutions across London’s public assets. Read more.

Before we wrap up for the weekend, why not take part in our referral scheme and share Circular Connect with someone who will benefit from it?

Have a great one and we’ll meet again on Monday!

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy