SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: February 23-27, 2026

February 27, 2026

JP Morgan Raises Long-Term Gold Price Forecast to $4,500

JP Morgan raised its long-term forecast for gold prices to $4,500 an ounce on Wednesday while keeping its 2026 year-end forecast at $6,300. Spot gold has risen by about ‌20% this year, hitting a three-week hig h of $5,248.89 an ounce on Tuesday. It hit a record peak of $5,594.82 on Jan. 29. That followed a 2025 surge of more than 64% in the metal widely regarded as a safe-haven investment. The bank noted that it remains firmly bullish on ‌gold prices through 2026 and still sees a continued structural diversification trend into the metal, which it says has further room to run. It added that it forecasts enough demand from ⁠central banks and investors this year to ultimately push gold prices to $6,300 an ounce by the end of 2026. Geopolitical risks, the ‌U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate easing cycle, central bank buying and flows into bullion-backed exchange-traded funds have driven gold to multiple record highs over the past year. (Source: Reuters)

Silver Set for Second Weekly Gain

Silver climbed nearly 2% toward $90 per ounce on Friday, poised for a second consecutive weekly gain, supported by US tariff uncertainties and elevated geopolitical risks. Investors weighed policy uncertainty in Washington after the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s broad reciprocal tariffs last week. The administration then implemented a new 10% global tariff, which could rise to 15% for certain countries, fueling concerns that existing trade deals between the US and its partners might be undermined. Meanwhile, a hawkish shift among Federal Reserve officials could limit gains in precious metals, with robust US economic data supporting expectations for an extended rate hold. On the geopolitical front, the US and Iran agreed to continue nuclear negotiations next week, following progress during Thursday’s talks in Geneva. (Source: Trading Economics)

Copper Set for Second Weekly Gain

Copper futures held near $6 per pound on Friday, poised for a second consecutive weekly gain, as investors awaited key demand signals from China’s upcoming parliamentary meeting. The annual “Two Sessions” will run from March 4 to around March 11, during which the government is also set to release its 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining policy priorities for 2026-2030. Chinese buyers have largely stayed on the sidelines since returning from the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, with some importers delaying purchases amid elevated prices. Many domestic fabricators are not expected to fully resume operations until early next month. Copper inventories in exchange-monitored warehouses also rose to record highs in late January, influenced by US trade policy shifts and mine disruptions. (Source: Trading Economics)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: February 23-27, 2026

Toyota Announces New Investment in A Circular Factory in Poland

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has announced the establishment of its newest Circular Factory in Walbrzych, Poland. The facility will cover 25,000 square metres and process close to 20,000 End-Of-Life vehicles every year. This investment represents another significant step in TME’s strategy to develop a circular economy model based on the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle. The aim is to maximize environmental benefits through precise and systematic processing of vehicles at the end of their life cycle. The new factory in Poland will apply a comprehensive approach to End-Of-Life vehicle processing. It will recover components that can be used again as well as valuable raw materials. Items such as batteries and wheels will be evaluated for their potential to be remanufactured, repurposed or recycled. Toyota also intends to recover materials including copper, steel, aluminium and plastics for use in the production of new vehicles. The Circular Factory will expand the activities of the existing Walbrzych plant, which already produces key components for Toyota’s hybrid and conventional powertrains. (Source: Toyota)

Comstock Unit Wins California Approval for Solar Panel Recycling Site

Comstock Inc. said its subsidiary Comstock Metals has received authorization from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to operate as a universal-waste recycler handling photovoltaic modules at its newly opened Kings County facility. The approval places the site among a limited group in California permitted to treat end-of-life solar panels, allowing it to serve utilities, developers and contractors seeking compliant recycling options in the nation’s largest solar decommissioning market. The facility will function as a regional hub for collecting, preparing and aggregating retired panels from California and neighboring states. Comstock said its process enables recovery of materials such as aluminum, silver and copper for reuse while avoiding landfill disposal. The company is also preparing plans for a second large-scale recycling facility in Nevada as it expands a national network to manage the growing wave of retired solar equipment. (Source: Comstock Metals)

Indorama Ventures, AMB Launch Recyclable Multi-Layer PET Food Tray for EU Rules

Indorama Ventures and AMB Spa have introduced a multi-layer PET food tray designed to remain recyclable while increasing recycled content, as packaging producers prepare for the European Union’s upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The tray uses recycled PET flakes in its core, combined with virgin food-grade PET outer layers to meet food-safety, clarity and sealing requirements, the companies said. The structure is intended to support closed-loop recycling and help brand owners replace packaging that would otherwise be downcycled. Production is already underway at Indorama’s Verdun Recycling facility in France. Initial shipments are being delivered to customers in the UK, with wider European rollout planned. The partners say the design aligns with EU targets, including an average 30% recycled content in plastic packaging by 2030. (Source: Indorama Ventures)

Hydrovolt, Ragn-Sells Sign Three-Year Deal to Manage EV Battery Recycling in Sweden

Hydrovolt has signed a three-year cooperation agreement with Ragn-Sells to collect, store and transport end-of-life electric vehicle batteries across Sweden. The partnership is aimed at strengthening battery recycling infrastructure in the Swedish market, as volumes of retired EV batteries begin to rise. Ragn-Sells will oversee nationwide collection and logistics, consolidating high-energy batteries at its export hubs before shipment to Hydrovolt’s recycling facility in Fredrikstad, Norway. Hydrovolt said the agreement is designed to ensure safe handling and optimized transport of used batteries, while supporting the development of a circular battery value chain. Executives from both companies said the collaboration reflects a broader strategic push into Sweden’s growing battery recycling sector, where regulatory and sustainability pressures are increasing. (Source: Hydrovolt)

Circ Expands Fiber Club with New Brand and Supply Partners

Circ has added new partners to its Fiber Club program, aiming to speed commercial adoption of recycled textile materials as brands face growing regulatory and market pressure to cut waste. New brand members include Madewell (part of J.Crew Group), Reformation and European retailer C&A, alongside supply-chain partners Lenzing and Linz Textil. Circ said the initiative pools demand across pulp, fiber and yarn production to overcome minimum-order volumes and pricing hurdles that often slow the rollout of new materials. Participating brands are developing collections using lyocell fibers containing 30% Circ pulp derived from recycled polycotton waste. CEO Peter Majeranowski said the next phase focuses on reducing commercialization barriers and integrating circular materials into existing manufacturing systems, as extended producer responsibility rules in the U.S. and Europe increase pressure on companies to invest in textile recycling. (Source: Circ)

PureCycle, TOPPAN Partner on Recycled-Content Packaging for Food Applications

PureCycle Technologies and TOPPAN have formed a partnership to develop flexible and thermoformed packaging using high levels of recycled polypropylene, targeting rising regulatory and brand demand for sustainable materials. The companies said they have already produced a snack bar wrapper containing more than 30% recycled content using PureCycle’s PureFive resin, designed to maintain printability, food safety and performance standards required by major food brands. They are now expanding the collaboration to thermoformed products such as snack cups and microwaveable food containers. PureCycle uses a dissolution recycling process that removes color, odor and contaminants from post-consumer polypropylene to create resin suitable for food-contact use and compatible with existing production lines. Executives from both companies said the partnership aims to help brand owners meet recycled-content targets while preserving packaging functionality and compliance. (Source: PureCycle)

NOVA Chemicals Launches Two Recycled PE Grades for Non-Food Packaging

NOVA Chemicals has commercialized two new recycled polyethylene grades, SYNDIGO rPE-IN3 and rPE-IN4, expanding its SYNDIGO line of resins made entirely from post-consumer film. The materials are produced at the company’s SYNDIGO1 mechanical recycling plant in Connersville, Indiana, and are intended for general-purpose, non-food applications across North America. The recycled linear low-density PE grades can be used in products such as can liners, shrink film, carryout bags, overwrap and heavy-duty sacks. NOVA said rPE-IN3 is derived from recovered stretch film, while rPE-IN4 uses mixed retail back-of-store film streams. The company added that the facility, commissioned in 2025, is expected to exceed 100 million pounds of annual capacity in 2026, with plans to introduce a fully recycled LLDPE suitable for food-contact packaging later this year. (Source: NOVA Chemicals)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: February 23-27, 2026

Zimbabwe Bans Exports of All Raw Minerals and Lithium Concentrates, Cites Malpractices

Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, its mines ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, after the government alleged malpractices and leakages. The ministry said the ban on exports would remain in place until further notice and applied to all minerals currently in transit. “Government expects cooperation of the mining industry on this measure which has been taken in the national interest,” the statement said. (Source: Reuters)

EU Parliament Committees Back End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation with Recycled Content Mandates

Committees of the European Parliament have approved the proposed End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELVR), advancing rules that would require minimum recycled plastic content in new vehicles across the bloc. The Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committees voted 96–20, with four abstentions, in favor of the measure on Feb. 25. The vote follows a provisional agreement reached in December between the Parliament and the European Council. Final approval by the full Parliament and Council is still required. Under the draft deal, new vehicles must contain at least 15% recycled plastic six years after the regulation enters into force, rising to 25% after 10 years. At least one-fifth of that content must come from end-of-life vehicles. The regulation would apply to passenger cars, vans, heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles and special-purpose vehicles, with limited exemptions. It also introduces design requirements, tighter definitions of end-of-life vehicles, export restrictions and a cross-border extended producer responsibility framework. (Source: EU Commission)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: February 23-27, 2026