Hey there, we’re delighted to confirm that you’ll be hearing from us twice a week moving forward! Here’s the updated schedule:

Monday 1:00pm BST: Circular Company Showcase & Circular Conference Calendar
Friday 1:00pm BST: Circular Industry & Circular Investment News

It’s business as usual today, reporting on another busy week in the circular economy. Let’s get stuck in!

Industry News

Circ to build €450,000,000 polycotton recycling plant in France. With backing from the French government, Circ will construct the world's first industrial-scale facility to recycle cotton-polyester blends. The Saint-Avold plant aims to be fully operational by 2028 and process 70,000 tonnes annually. Read more.

Washington enacts Right to Repair law for electronics. Governor Bob Ferguson has signed the Right to Repair Act, making Washington the sixth U.S. state to mandate that manufacturers provide parts, tools, and information for repairing electronics. This move will make repair easier for consumers and independent businesses. Read more.

Reju aims to recycle 300,000,000 pieces of polyester clothing a year. The Dutch start-up and subsidiary of 17,000-employee strong Technip Energies is planning to launch a large-scale facility leveraging its advanced recycling technology in the Netherlands. Read more.

UK Parliament launches inquiry into circular economy progress. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has initiated an inquiry to assess the UK government's efforts in advancing a circular economy. The focus areas include packaging reforms, reduction of single-use items, and promotion of sustainable product designs. Read more.

Alterra and Viva Energy advance soft plastic recycling in Australia. Alterra, a leader in advanced plastic recycling, successfully processed 9.5 tons of plastic pyrolysis oil (PPO) at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery, demonstrating that Alterra’s technology can produce high quality PPO outputs at scale. Read more.

Vinted Go and Bloq.it expand smart locker network to Spain and Portugal. Vinted Go is extending its smart locker partnership with Bloq.it, who will invest €2,500,000 over three years to support the rollout, including new facilities and local hires. The lockers offer convenient and sustainable delivery for second-hand fashion. Read more.

Reboxed partners with MTR Group to scale device recommerce. Sustainable tech company Reboxed has teamed up with Samsung accredited repair partner MTR Group to expand its supply of high-quality refurbished phones. The partnership supports Reboxed’s mission to rehome 100 million devices by 2030. Read more.

Cyclic Materials and Lime launch rare earth magnet recycling initiative. Cyclic Materials and Lime have partnered to recycle rare earth magnets from retired e-bike and e-scooter motors across North America. The program marks the first large-scale recycling effort of its kind in the micromobility sector. Read more.

S2S Group secures £500,000 from Bailie Group. IT asset disposition specialist S2S Group has sold a 25% stake in its business for £500,000 to Bailie Group. The funding aims to boost S2S's market share and support its goal of becoming the UK's leading IT asset disposal provider. Read more.

Midis Group partners with Fixably to enhance after-sales service. Midis Group's iSTYLE and K-tuin, leading Apple resellers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, have adopted Fixably’s after-sales platform to streamline repair workflows and improve service delivery. Read more.

TUI Care Foundation launches Destination Zero Waste in Sicily. In partnership with the Sicily Environment fund, TUI Care Foundation aims to build a strong foundation for a long-term programme focused on creating circular economy solutions for fishing nets, prioritising prevention, recovery, recycling, and upcycling. Read more.

PepsiCo delays climate and packaging targets amid global challenges. PepsiCo has announced adjustments to its sustainability goals, extending its net-zero emissions target from 2040 to 2050. The company cited "external realities" such as recycling infrastructure, electric grid modernization, and varying government policies as factors influencing this decision. Read more.

Circular Supply Chain Network partners with Procurement & Supply Chain Live. The global community of circular professionals is partnering with the premier supply chain event and is offering 50 FREE tickets to the conference in Chicago next week. Secure your ticket here and use code CSCNMP50 at checkout.

European ITAD and circular electronics conference launches in June. The event, dedicated to IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) and circular electronics, will take place on 11-12 June in Frankfurt. Expect to see Circular Connect and thousands of other industry professionals there! Register here.

eBay named 2025 Circularity Partner for Blue Earth. eBay will host its inaugural Circularity Studio at the Blue Earth Forum on 26 June during London Climate Action Week. The event will bring together innovators and industry experts to explore new solutions for circular businesses. Expect to see Circular Connect there! Read more.

Investment News

Coca-Cola Foundation and GETF launch $1,000,000 circular economy fund. The Coca-Cola Foundation and the Global Environment & Technology Foundation have introduced the Partnership for a Circular Tomorrow (PACT), a $1,000,000 initiative offering Grants ranging from $100,000 to $400,000. Read more.

Alta Resource secures $10,000,000 to scale protein-based rare earth extraction. Alta’s bioengineered protein platform extracts critical minerals from low-grade ores and waste, reducing environmental impact and strengthening domestic supply chains. The funding will accelerate development and commercialisation of its platform. Read more.

Converge raises $22,000,000 to advance AI-driven concrete decarbonisation. London-based cleantech firm Converge has raised $22,000,000 million to scale its ConcreteDNA platform, which leverages AI and sensor data to optimise concrete mix designs and reduce carbon emissions. Read more.

Occidental and ADNOC to explore $500,000,000 DAC facility in Texas. Occidental's subsidiary 1PointFive and ADNOC's investment arm, XRG, are evaluating a joint venture for a Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility in Texas. XRG is considering an investment of up to $500,000,000 in the project, which aims to capture 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Read more.

That’s a wrap for the weekend. Have a great one, and keep your eyes peeled for Monday’s issue!

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy