Plastics Recycling Awards Europe is a European competition that recognises initiatives, products, and technologies based on recycled plastics or related to plastics recycling, with a strong focus on the circular economy. It is organised by Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) together with Crain Communications. The awards aim to highlight both technical innovation and real, sustainable applicability in products or technologies.
Application deadline: Friday, 5 December 2025.
The winners will be announced during the Plastics Recycling Show Europe, which will take place on 5–6 May 2026 at the RAI Amsterdam Exhibition Centre (Amsterdam, the Netherlands).
Participation is open to actors from across the plastics recycling value chain in Europe, including:
- Brand owners
- Retailers / distributors
- Product designers
- Manufacturers of products made from recycled plastic
- Producers of recycling machinery or equipment that uses recycled material
- Suppliers of recycled raw materials or recycled plastic products
In short: companies, organisations, manufacturers or designers working with recycled plastic materials or recycling machinery/technology.
There are seven award categories:
- Plastics Recycling Ambassador (individual/entity promoting plastics recycling)
- Automotive, Electrical or Electronic Product — recycled plastic components for automotive, household appliances, or electronics
- Building & Construction Product — recycled plastic products for construction (e.g., building materials, finishes, plastic elements, etc.)
- Household & Leisure Product — home, leisure, or everyday-use items made from recycled plastic
- Plastic Packaging Product — plastic packaging with specific recyclability and recycled-content requirements
- Product Technology Innovation — technological innovations in products that use recycled plastics or facilitate their use
- Recycling Machinery Innovation — innovations in machinery or processes for plastics recycling
To be eligible, entries must meet several requirements. The most important include:
- The product or innovation must be designed, developed, or manufactured in Europe.
- It must contain at least 50% recycled content. For packaging, it must contain at least 35% post-consumer recycled content.
- The origin of the recycled material must be specified (type of waste — household, industrial, etc.) and evidence may be requested.
- Submitted products must already be commercialised (or have a planned commercial launch) before the date of the event.
- Products must not be too old: generally, no more than 2 years since launch; for innovations and recycling machinery, up to 4 years maximum.
- Entries that have competed before are not accepted, nor can the same product be submitted in multiple categories.
Additionally, entry to the competition is free of charge.
The awards seek to recognise products or technologies that promote the circular economy of plastics by reducing waste and encouraging the use of recycled material. They reward sustainable, eco-friendly, recyclable, and innovative solutions — increasingly valued across Europe.
They also highlight technical innovation, design creativity, functionality, market relevance, and offer visibility within the European recycling sector, networking opportunities, potential collaborations, and international recognition.
Source: https://www.plasticsrecyclers.eu/news/plastics-recycling-awards-europe-2026-now-open-for-entries/