Launch of two pilot circularity projects in China, co-funded by the EU and Germany

The delegation of the EU to China has announced the launch of two circularity pilot projects in Shanghai and Jiaxing on 23/04/2026. The projects, co-funded by the EU and Germany, target the plastics recovered from end-of-life vehicles and single-use plastic packagings for food and beverage utilisation.

The first project, "Extending Vehicle Producers’ Responsibility for Enhanced Material Circularity", launched in Shanghai on 21/04/2026, aims to tackle the issue of plastics recovered from end-of-life vehicles "currently poorly recycled and rarely reused in new vehicles, due to regulatory, technical and economic barriers". The initiative is open to all automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers.

"Partners, including ELV dismantler Yucheng, recycler Ausell, and polymer producer LyondellBasell, will work to enable the recovery of polypropylene (PP) plastics from ELVs and their reintegration into new vehicle components", explains the delegation.

"This collaborative pilot seeks to demonstrate a practical and scalable car‑to‑car recycling model, help strengthen effective extended producer…