Circularity in the focus Rethinking Plastic congress to debut at Equiplast 2026

More than 400 exhibitors, over 100 speakers and a strong focus on circularity, recycling and digitalisation will make Equiplast 2026 a major meeting point for the plastics industry in Spain and southern Europe.

From 2 to 5 June, Equiplast Barcelona will launch its own congress within the Rethinking Plastic activities area, where more than 30 sessions will be held with more than 100 speakers and the participation of the main organisations in the Spanish plastics ecosystem. The programme will be structured around four axes: circular economy, recycling, advanced materials and digitalisation. The space will be completed with a display of products made of sustainable plastic, and with a networking area designed to promote exchange between professionals.

The Rethinking Plastic congress area seeks to give visibility to good practices and real cases featuring companies using plastic industry solutions in different sectors. These experiences will show the impact of innovation on circularity, efficiency and the development of new compounds. Among them is Equiplast’s Best In Class recognition, which will distinguish an exemplary circular economy initiative.

Sustainability and the circular economy will open the programme, with a first day dedicated to progress towards more efficient and responsible production models. The Strategic Plan for the Plastics Sector will be presented, along with initiatives linked to the reuse of packaging, waste recovery and industrial symbiosis. An update of the regulatory framework will also be offered, with special attention to the management of microplastics and the new regulations on pellets, a key element of the international OCS (Operation Clean Sweep) programme, aimed at preventing their loss and reducing their environmental impact.

Among other entities and organisations, the following will participate in this block: the Spanish Plastics Industry Platform (Esplásticos); the Spanish Association of Plastics Manufacturers (Anaip); the Association of European Plastics Manufacturers (Plastics Europe); the Tarragona Chemical Business Association (AEQT); the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (Crec); and the companies Veolia and Reyde Grupo Armando Álvarez.

Recycling technologies and new materials

The second day will focus on innovations applied to recovery processes, from new mechanical and chemical recycling solutions to technologies designed to improve the separation and treatment of materials in various industrial sectors. The programme will include a review of the different types of recycling, specific cases in packaging and the automotive sector, as well as technologies aimed at treating complex waste, such as multilayer materials, to generate higher value compounds. The day will be completed with a global overview of the current state of recycling technologies and a monographic session on industrial scrap.

In addition to the Aimplas Plastic Technology Institute, the Gaiker Foundation and the National Association of Plastic Recyclers (Anarpla), firms such as Enplast and Fych Technologies, as well as other organisations specialised in recovery, will also participate.

The third day will be dedicated to the role of advanced plastic materials and their ability to transform processes and applications in multiple areas. The programme will address trends in new materials, the development of biopolyurethanes aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings, compostable solutions for agricultural use, and examples of applications in healthcare environments. Resource valorisation initiatives will also be presented, and a round table will be held focusing on the strategic impact of innovative materials across the value chain. The day will conclude with a session dedicated to biopolymers and biodegradability, followed by the Equiplast Awards, recognising companies, professionals and entities for their outstanding contribution to the sector.

Eurecat, Indresmat, Bayer CropScience, B. Braun, Alier, CMAV, and the Spanish Plastics Centre (CEP), among other agents in the value chain, will participate in this block.

Digitalization to gain competitiveness

The last day of the congress will be dedicated to digital transformation as a lever for competitiveness, with content focused on process automation, robotisation, industrial traceability, the digital product passport and the integration of 4.0 technologies in the plastics value chain. The conference will also address digital solutions to improve energy efficiency and will offer an update on the state of digitalisation in the sector.

In addition to Eurecat and CEP, the Spanish Association of Robotics and Automation (AER) and the Efficient Energy Cluster of Catalonia (CEEC), among other entities specialising in industrial innovation, will also participate in this section.

Furthermore, within the framework of the congress, Equiplast 2026 will present an expanded edition of its plastics sector study, prepared together with the main organisations in the industry. Based on data from more than 3,700 companies, it will offer an up to date snapshot of the sector in Spain and will incorporate, for the first time, a comparison with Europe to strengthen competitiveness and support decision making.

Exhibition and networking

The Rethinking Plastic space will also include an exhibition featuring around thirty products for everyday or industrial use made from sustainable plastic, designed to showcase the variety of uses of a material with multiple life cycles. Within this framework, Equiplast will present the Rethinking Plastic Awards, which will recognise the most innovative and sustainable products exhibited in this showroom in the categories of packaging, automotive and mobility, consumer products and textiles, and construction and furniture.

For its part, the networking area will facilitate the exchange of ideas, the creation of synergies and the promotion of new projects among companies, technology centres and entities in the sector.

Showcase for innovation in plastics

Equiplast will bring together more than 400 exhibitors from 16 countries, 12% more than in the previous edition, consolidating its position as the benchmark event for the plastics industry in the Iberian market and one of the leading events in southern Europe. It will feature a wide business offering covering extrusion and processing machinery, automation, raw materials, additives, moulds and dies, recycling and environmental solutions, as well as software, semi finished products and specialist services.

The show will once again be held alongside Expoquimia, the meeting point for the chemical and process industries, with the expectation of jointly exceeding 800 exhibitors and attracting around 21,000 professionals. Both industries work together to develop more sustainable materials and processes, promote the circular economy and add value across multiple sectors.

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