Europe
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Technology
Bubble barriers
Deployed in European cities
A perforated tube on the riverbed releases a curtain of bubbles that pushes floating and suspended plastic to a catchment at the bank.
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Technology
Deposit return systems and reverse vending
Proven at national scale
A small refundable deposit on drink containers, collected back through machines or shops, routinely returns more than 90 percent of bottles and cans.
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Technology
Digital watermarks for packaging
Industrial trials
Invisible codes printed across a package tell sorting cameras what the item is made of and whether it held food, so it can be sorted precisely.
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Organization
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Cowes, United Kingdom | Founded 2010
Leading circular economy think tank; its Global Commitment brings together companies and governments behind shared targets for plastic packaging.
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Organization
EndPlasticSoup (Rotary)
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Founded 2018
Rotary movement started by Amsterdam clubs in 2018 that mobilizes Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs worldwide to end plastic soup by 2050.
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Technology
Enzymatic recycling of PET and polyester
Pilot to first commercial plants
Engineered enzymes break PET bottles, trays and polyester textiles back into their building blocks, which can be made into new plastic of virgin quality.
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Law or Bill
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
European Union | Applies since 12 August 2026, with later phase-ins
Sets EU-wide rules for recyclable design, recycled content, reuse targets and labelling for all packaging.
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Law or Bill
EU Single-Use Plastics Directive
European Union | In force; bans since 2021, tethered caps since 2024
Bans single-use plastic items that have alternatives, such as cutlery, plates, straws and foam food containers, and requires tethered caps.
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Law or Bill
France AGEC anti-waste law
France | In force since 2020, phased measures
Sets a path to end single-use plastic packaging by 2040, bans plastic around most fruit and vegetables, and requires microfibre filters in new washing machines.
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Technology
Hydrothermal recycling
First commercial plant in development
Uses supercritical water to break mixed plastics, including flexible films, back into hydrocarbons for new plastic production.
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Organization
One Earth One Ocean
Munich and Kiel, Germany | Founded 2011
German nonprofit that builds its own waste-collecting boats and runs local collection and sorting teams to clear plastic from rivers, harbours and coasts.
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Organization
Plastic Soup Foundation
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Founded 2011
Amsterdam advocacy group focused on microplastics, human health and education, and a reference partner for Rotary’s EndPlasticSoup.
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Technology
Recycling ships at sea: the SeeElefant
In development; first ship planned for 2027
A converted freighter with sorting, shredding and recycling systems on board that can anchor at plastic hotspots with no recycling capacity and process about 60,000 tonnes a year.
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Organization
Seas & Straws
Bocas del Toro, Panama, and Germany | Founded 2018
Founded by eco warrior Jana Koebel: a plastic-free living and travel hub, plastic-free consulting for hotels, and on-the-ground recycling projects with One Earth One Ocean in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
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Technology
Seaweed-based packaging
Early commercial
Films, coatings and pods made from seaweed replace plastic in sauce sachets, takeaway box linings and flexible wraps, and break down naturally.
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Technology
Tethered caps
Required in the EU since July 2024
Caps that stay attached to drink bottles, so the cap is collected and recycled with the bottle instead of becoming litter.
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Organization
The Great Bubble Barrier
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Uses a curtain of air bubbles across a canal or river to steer plastic to the bank for collection while fish and boats pass freely.
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Law or Bill
UK Plastic Packaging Tax
United Kingdom | In force since April 2022
Tax on plastic packaging with less than 30 percent recycled content, in force since April 2022.
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Technology
Washing machine microfibre filters
Commercial
Filters on washing machine outlets catch synthetic fibres shed by clothing before they reach wastewater and rivers.
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Technology
Waste collection boats
Deployed
Slow-moving catamarans with nets collect floating plastic in harbours, estuaries and coastal waters, then bring it ashore for sorting.
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Organization
Zero Waste Europe
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels network helping European cities cut waste and shaping EU packaging and reuse rules.