Green economy

Circular economy, recycling becomes a geopolitical factor

Circularity enters long-term industrial strategies. Here is the ten-point guide for a sector testing its maturity

by Niccolò Gramigni

30 January 2026

Riciclo. Un camion di bottiglie di plastica

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The Ten Points
Circular Economy and Geopolitics
Data

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Ten key points that will characterise the circular economy sector in 2026. The news has been published by Circularity, a benefit company active in the sector that accompanies companies at all stages of the journey towards integrating ESG principles into their business model: the guide, 'Circularity Trend Guide 2026', is free of charge and includes regulatory references for the four-year period 2026-2030.

The Ten Points

One of the ten points concernspackaging: in 2026, the guide reads, "packaging will become a 'rule-proof' object: it is no longer enough to be recyclable in theory, it is necessary to design packaging that withstands technical requirements, real supply chains, controls and reporting". Here Italy performs well: it already exceeds the EU targets of both 2025 set at 65% and 2030 set at 70%.

The demand for raw materials (this is the second point) is growing "significantly in many supply chains, but not uniformly", "in 2026 the real competitive advantage is not to declare the use of recycled material, but to be able to manage this asymmetry, ensuring quality, continuity and traceability where the market allows it, and mitigating risks where demand remains weak or volatile".

In 2026, the discontinuity factor is "the technological and skills leap that is transforming the management of material flows", just as the idea that "technological waste is not 'end-of-life' but industrial stock" is consolidated this year. The point - the report explains - "is not just to recover, but to collect enough (and well) to make advanced plants sustainable".

Circular Economy and Geopolitics

The fifth point, geopopop, speaks of the fact that "critical raw materials policies transform recycling into an instrument of geopolitical autonomy. Circularity becomes part of long-term industrial strategies", in 2026 then - it is the sixth key concept, the circular cv - "it is not enough to 'make' circularity: it must be demonstrated. Indicators, Kpi and standards become the common language between companies, finance and institutions'.

Furthermore, 'digital traceability accompanies materials throughout their life cycle. Data becomes a competitive asset, but also a responsibility' and - with reference to the circular benefit - 'more and more companies are experiencing concrete economic benefits: reduced costs, greater efficiency, better access to credit'.

The last two points are quality over quantity and therefore the focus on quality and circular procurement, i.e. that 'specifications on materials, take-back, shared responsibility and data become the new normal'.

The data

Italy, in terms of recycling, has a circular material utilisation rate in 2024 of 21.6%, the highest in Europe, against an EU average of 12.2%: however, it is pointed out that, despite good data, there remain 'open structural knots in some supply chains, such as plastics and WEEE, and in the quality of collections and secondary raw materials'.

According to the Clean Technology 2025 Observatory survey by Innovatec and Haiki+, "72% of Italian companies made at least one investment in environmental sustainability in 2025 and investments in circular economy processes increased from 16% in 2023 to 27% in 2025". Furthermore, "77% of companies expect business benefits from their green/circular commitment, and 55% have already achieved them in 2025, up from 52% in 2024. The main concrete benefits are efficiency savings and cost reductions reported by 7 out of 10 companies, and improvements in profitability indicated by 31% of companies".

"2026 is the year when circularity becomes a structural condition to compete," comments Camilla Colucci, CEO of Circularity. "Companies are not only called upon to adapt to the new rules, but to integrate circularity into processes, data and strategic decisions. This is where the competitive advantage of the coming years will be played out'.