SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: June 29-July 3, 2026

July 03, 2026

Gold Holds Gains on Weak US Jobs Data

Gold held above $4,100 an ounce on Friday after gaining more than 2% in the previous session, underpinned by weaker-than-expected US jobs data that prompted traders to scale back bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes. The US economy added just 57,000 jobs in June, the fewest in four months and well below forecasts of 110,000, while the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%. That followed a report on Wednesday showing private-sector job growth also came in below expectations. Fed funds futures now imply roughly a 50% chance of a September rate hike, down from 67% before the latest employment data. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh also said this week that inflation expectations are moderating while reaffirming the central bank’s commitment to maintaining price stability. Meanwhile, gold drew additional support from lower oil prices and easing inflation concerns as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continued to recover amid progress in US-Iran talks. (Source: Trading Economics)

Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD Rises Above $62.00 Within Broader Bearish Setup

Silver price (XAG/USD) jumps to the weekly high near $62.15 during the early European trading hours on Friday. The precious metal extends the rally as a weaker-than-expected US Nonfarm Payrolls ‌(NFP) report has reduced expectations of Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes this year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, traders are now pricing in nearly a 52% chance of a US rate hike by September, down from 66% before the jobs data. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding peace in the Middle East between the US and Iran. Renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran could raise inflation worries, weighing the white metal. Iran’s joint military command warned on Thursday that any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with a “decisive and swift response” as tensions continue to roil negotiations. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that “I think they have accepted nearly everything we require.” (Source: FXStreet)

Aluminum Rebounds

Aluminum futures in the UK rose above $3,100 per tonne, rebounding from a more than four-month low as the US dollar retreated, improving the appeal of dollar-denominated commodities. Softer US jobs data reduced expectations of a near-term rate hike, pushing the greenback to a two-week low. In addition, factory activity in China, one of the largest consumers of the metal, returned to expansion in June, supporting the demand outlook. However, price gains remained limited by improving supply prospects. The resumption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz following a US–Iran deal has increased the likelihood of additional supplies from the Persian Gulf, a region that accounts for nearly a tenth of global aluminum output. At the same time, production continued to rise in China, the world’s largest producer, while output from Indonesian smelters also expanded. (Source: Trading Economics)

Copper Rises as Rate-Hike Expectations Ease

Copper futures climbed toward $6.2 per pound on Friday and were on track for a weekly gain as traders scaled back bets for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes following softer-than-expected US employment data. The US economy added far fewer jobs in June than forecast, leading markets to price in only about a 50% chance of a Fed rate increase in September, down from roughly 67% before the report. Industrial metals had faced pressure in recent weeks as Federal Reserve officials signaled a greater willingness to tighten monetary policy, weighing on the outlook for metals demand. Easing supply risks as commercial traffic though the crucial Strait of Hormuz improved also weighed on prices. (Source: Trading Economics)

RE&UP Launches Fiber Club to Expand Adoption of Recycled Textiles

Textile recycling company RE&UP has launched the Fiber Club, a collaborative consortium designed to help fashion brands scale the use of recycled fibers by addressing supply chain and sourcing challenges. Based on a framework developed by Fashion for Good, the initiative aims to overcome barriers such as fragmented supply chains, high minimum order quantities and upfront costs that have limited the commercial adoption of next-generation recycled materials. The program guides participating brands through four stages, from supply chain alignment and material sampling to pilot collections and long-term fiber sourcing agreements. RE&UP said the model is intended to simplify procurement and provide predictable access to recycled materials at scale. General Manager Andreas Dorner said the consortium provides brands with an operational framework to move beyond small-scale sustainability projects and integrate circular materials into long-term commercial production. (Source: RE&UP)

Scanfill Launches Food-Grade PP Film with 30% Recycled Content

Sweden-based Scanfill has introduced Scanfoil rPP POP, a food-contact-approved polypropylene (PP) film containing 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, as demand grows for packaging that meets upcoming EU sustainability requirements. The company said the recyclable film delivers performance comparable to virgin PP and is available in multiple transparency levels. The recycled feedstock is sourced from plastic cups collected in coastal areas of Southeast Asia and processed using advanced recycling technology before undergoing additional safety testing by Scanfill. According to the company, the material offers full traceability and is designed to support compliance with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Scanfill said customers can identify the geographic origin of the recovered plastic, providing greater supply chain transparency while helping reduce plastic pollution in coastal environments. (Source: Packaging Europe)

L&F Invests in CIS Chemical to Expand Battery Recycling Partnership

South Korea’s L&F has made a strategic investment in CIS Chemical to strengthen battery recycling capabilities and secure a stable supply of recycled raw materials for cathode production. The investment follows a memorandum of understanding signed in May covering cooperation on recycling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries. Under the partnership, L&F will source recycled LFP and NCM materials by leveraging CIS Chemical’s processing technologies. The companies will also jointly develop high-purity mixed hydroxide precipitate (Clean-MHP) and advance LFP recycling and remanufacturing technologies to help lower cathode material costs. CIS Chemical said its recycling process can recover up to 98% of lithium carbonate and has already validated its LFP recycling technology with major domestic customers. L&F CEO Heo Jae-hong said the partnership will strengthen the company’s recycled materials supply chain and support the development of a comprehensive battery recycling ecosystem. (Source: THE ELEC)

Reju Opens U.S. R&D Center to Advance Textile-to-Textile Recycling

Reju, a textile regeneration company, has opened a research and development center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, marking its first dedicated R&D facility in North America as it seeks to scale chemical textile recycling technologies. The center is located within Technip Energies’ Advanced Materials and Catalysts research site and will support the development of polyester recycling and mixed-fabric solutions. It brings together Reju’s core research team, previously based at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in California, where its Volcat depolymerization technology was originally developed. The facility will focus on progressing technologies from early-stage testing to kilo-scale production, supporting Reju’s planned global network of “Regeneration Hubs” aimed at creating a closed-loop textile recycling system. The company said the center will accelerate industrial deployment of its circular chemistry platform and strengthen its ability to convert textile waste into reusable raw materials. (Source: Reju)

Motherson, PureCycle Develop Automotive Bumper with 30% Recycled Polypropylene

Motherson and PureCycle Technologies have developed a Class-A automotive bumper prototype containing 30% recycled polypropylene, marking a step toward helping automakers comply with the European Union’s upcoming recycled-content requirements for vehicles. The prototype was manufactured at Motherson’s facility in Alabama, with testing led by the company’s global innovation team in Germany. According to the companies, the bumper has successfully completed climate and mechanical performance evaluations, with detailed technical results scheduled to be presented at the Startup Autobahn Expo in Stuttgart on July 2. The project addresses proposed EU End-of-Life Vehicle regulations that would require new vehicles to incorporate higher levels of recycled plastics from 2032. PureCycle said its PureFive® recycled polypropylene, produced through its dissolution recycling process, offers virgin-like performance and certified recycled content, supporting automotive manufacturers’ compliance efforts. The partners plan to further evaluate large-scale production and expand the material’s use in additional interior and exterior vehicle components. (Source: PureCycle)

International Paper to Close Four North American Packaging Facilities

International Paper will close four packaging facilities and end preprint operations at another site as part of a broader effort to optimize its North American manufacturing network and improve long-term competitiveness. The company plans to cease preprint operations at its Richwood, Kentucky, facility and close its sheet plant in Aurora, Illinois, along with converting plants in Elk Grove, California, and Barrington, New Jersey, by the end of the third quarter of 2026. International Paper said the restructuring is intended to strengthen its cost position, expand capacity and focus investments on higher-value operations while continuing to provide sustainable packaging solutions. The company will transfer customer production to other regional facilities to maintain supply continuity. Employees affected by the closures will receive severance, benefits and outplacement support. The company said the changes are part of its ongoing strategy to streamline operations and better position its packaging business for long-term growth. (Source: International Paper)

Albania Joins EU Glass Recycling Initiative to Advance Circular Economy

Albania has joined the European Close the Glass Loop platform to strengthen glass packaging collection and recycling as the country works to align with EU environmental standards ahead of its planned accession to the bloc. The national platform will develop an action plan to improve glass collection and recycling by drawing on established European practices in infrastructure, policy and public engagement. The initiative will be coordinated by Albanian recycler Green Recycling, which aims to increase recovery rates for glass, a material that remains under-recycled in the country despite being infinitely recyclable. The launch builds on Albania’s recent investment in recycling infrastructure, including the opening of its first dedicated glass recycling facility in Bubq in 2025. The plant, with an annual processing capacity of 36,000 tonnes, was funded by the EU and Albanian partners and supports glass collection from businesses across the hospitality and retail sectors. (Source: Close the Glass Loop)

EU Activates New Steel Import Rules to Counter Global Overcapacity Pressure

The European Union has introduced new steel import rules aimed at shielding its domestic industry from the effects of global overcapacity, with the regulation entering into force on 1 July 2026. The measures include reduced tariff quotas and higher duties on steel imports exceeding those limits, replacing the EU’s previous steel safeguard system. The European Commission said the framework is designed to ensure “predictable” market access for trading partners while protecting the competitiveness of EU producers. Under the new system, half of the EU’s annual 18.3 million-tonne import quota is reserved for free trade agreement partners, with the remainder open to all exporters. The Commission said the structure maintains supply diversity while addressing concerns over import pressure. The regulation follows consultations with World Trade Organization members and will initially apply for six months under an urgency procedure before being reassessed through standard EU processes. (Source: European Commission)

EU Adopts New Rules for Calculating Recycled Content in PET Bottles

The European Commission has adopted new rules establishing how chemically recycled content in single-use PET beverage bottles will be calculated, verified and reported, providing greater clarity for recyclers and packaging manufacturers. The measures, introduced as part of the EU’s December 2025 plastics package, create a common methodology applicable to both mechanical and chemical recycling technologies. The Commission said the rules will improve transparency, ensure a level playing field and support investment in plastic recycling while helping member states meet recycled-content targets under the Single-Use Plastics Directive. Under the framework, recycled plastic from the EU and European Economic Area will initially qualify toward recycled-content targets. From November 21, 2027, material from OECD countries will also be eligible, subject to compliance with EU waste shipment rules, while material from non-OECD countries may qualify if equivalent environmental and human health standards are met. The implementing regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal. (Source: European Commission)

Recyda Launches PPWR Compliance Platform Ahead of EU Packaging Deadline

Recyda has launched the PPWR Navigator, a digital compliance platform designed to help companies meet the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements ahead of the August 12, 2026 compliance deadline. The platform enables businesses to assess packaging portfolios, identify compliance gaps and generate Declarations of Conformity (DoC) and Technical Documentation (TD) at scale. It addresses key PPWR requirements, including the assessment of substances of concern and packaging reusability, while supporting the management of thousands of packaging SKUs. Built on Recyda’s experience in packaging recyclability, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and global packaging regulations, the platform also integrates customizable documentation templates, portfolio analysis and bulk processing capabilities. The company said the PPWR Navigator is designed to streamline compliance today while preparing users for future EU recyclability requirements under Article 6 and evolving packaging regulations in other markets. (Source: Recyda)