PRSE 2026 will take place on 5 and 6 May 2026 at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

As Europe’s leading trade event for plastics recycling and the circular economy, PRSE combines a conference with a trade exhibition and the presentation of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe. The event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. According to the organiser, Plastics Recycler Europe (PRE), the focus this time is on strengthening European competitiveness and the practical implementation of new EU regulations such as the Packaging Regulation (PPWR).
 
According to the programme, the official opening will take place on 5 May 2026 with keynote speeches on the theme “From Crisis to Competitiveness: Re-Building the European Plastics Recycling Industry”. Speakers announced include Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Resilient Water Supply and a Competitive Circular Economy, and PRE President Ton Emans. Wolfgang Trunk, senior policy expert in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment and coordinator of the work on the PPWR, will take part in the subsequent panel discussion entitled “Recycled Content Targets: From Mandate to Implementation”, according to a statement from PRE.
 
The two-day PRSE programme is divided into two conference forums (Theatre One, Theatre Two) and, according to the information provided, covers the entire value chain. Key topics and sessions will address EU legislation with a focus on the practical implementation of the PPWR, technological synergies regarding the interaction between mechanical and chemical recycling, and market developments, including analyses to ensure a stable supply of recycled materials. Furthermore, AI-assisted robotic sorting of plastic waste is to be demonstrated in a new exhibition area at the AI Innovation Hub. According to the information provided, a new addition to the exhibition is the section on polyurethane recycling, which will feature on the PRSE agenda for the first time in 2026.
 
The winners of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026 will be announced at midday on the second day of the exhibition, 6 May 2026, during a formal awards ceremony. The awards will be presented in a total of seven categories, including Automotive/Electrical, Packaging, as well as awards for technological innovations and the “Plastics Recycling Ambassador”. All finalists, who were announced back in February 2026, will be exhibited in a dedicated area throughout the duration of the exhibition.
 
Further informationen: www.prseventeurope.com
 
Sources:

• prseventeurope.com
• PRE press release (15.4.2026)
• Photo: © Astrid Nap