From 1 to 3 July, experts from science, industry, politics and civil society discussed perspectives and solutions for a sustainable plastics industry.
 

According to the organisers, the focus was not only on current opportunities and challenges, but above all on the transfer from research to application. The aim is to look ahead and ask: How can intelligent recycling technologies contribute to the realisation of sustainable plastics cycles? The three-day conference at the Umweltforum in Berlin is a joint event organised by the two initiatives funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): ‘Resource-efficient circular economy – plastics recycling technologies (KuRT)’ and ‘AI application hub for plastic packaging – sustainable circular economy through artificial intelligence’. According to the programme, the first day focused on AI and plastics, while the second day looked at the future of the plastics cycle. The third day, which was opened with a keynote speech by BKV Managing Director Dr. Ingo Sartorius on ‘Sustainable recycling of plastics – challenges and opportunities’, was dedicated to innovative plastics recycling technologies. In addition to specialist symposia, the forum offered high-calibre panel discussions, exhibitions and interactive formats. According to the organisers, the topics will range from technological progress and digitalisation to regulatory frameworks and social and economic challenges.
 
Sources:

• Dechema, press release KI-Hub Kunststoffverpackungen (10.6.2025)
• Graphik: © Zukunftsforum 2025