SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: June 8-12, 2026

June 12, 2026

Gold Holds Gains on Iran Deal Prospects

Gold held above $4,200 an ounce on Friday after rebounding more than 3% in the previous session, as growing optimism over an imminent peace deal between the US and Iran eased concerns about persistent inflation and potential interest rate hikes. President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached as early as this weekend after postponing planned attacks and warning that the US could target the country’s oil infrastructure. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency also reported that Tehran was likely to accept the agreement, although no final text has been approved. Meanwhile, the ECB raised interest rates on Thursday for the first time since 2023 and lifted its inflation forecasts for 2026 and 2027. Data also showed US producer prices climbed 6.5% year-on-year in May, highlighting the inflationary effects of the Middle East energy shock and reinforcing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate increase this year. (Source: Trading Economics)

Silver Holds Gains on Iran Deal Prospects

Silver held above $67 an ounce on Friday after rebounding more than 6% in the previous session, as growing optimism over an imminent peace deal between the US and Iran eased concerns about persistent inflation and potential interest rate hikes. President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached as early as this weekend after postponing planned attacks and warning that the US could target the country’s oil infrastructure. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency also reported that Tehran was likely to accept the agreement, although no final text has been approved. Meanwhile, the ECB raised interest rates on Thursday for the first time since 2023 and lifted its inflation forecasts for 2026 and 2027. Data also showed US producer prices climbed 6.5% year-on-year in May, highlighting the inflationary effects of the Middle East energy shock and reinforcing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate increase this year. (Source: Trading Economics)

Goldman Sachs Raises End-2026 Copper Price Forecast

Goldman Sachs raised its copper price forecast for end of 2026 to $13,735 per metric ton, compared to its previous forecast of $12,465, citing a deeper-than-expected tightening in markets outside the United States as supply growth disappoints and rising U.S. imports absorb available metal. The bank also raised its average 2027 copper price forecast to $13,800 per ton from a previous forecast of $12,150. (Source: Reuters)

Copper Rebounds on US-Iran Deal Optimism

Copper futures climbed to around $6.4 per pound on Friday, recovering from three-week lows as rising optimism over a potential US-Iran peace agreement eased concerns about global growth and industrial metals demand. President Donald Trump said a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend in Europe, although there has been no confirmation from Tehran. Meanwhile, stronger-than-expected US inflation data bolstered bets for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this year. The outlook for metals demand remains clouded by the prospect of tighter monetary policy, which could slow economic activity and industrial consumption over time. Separately, Jefferies expects copper prices to stay elevated for longer than previously anticipated, citing an average annual supply deficit of 491,000 tons through 2030 and a slower-than-expected recovery at the Grasberg mine. (Source: Trading Economics)

Encina and BASF Expand Partnership to Advance Circular Chemicals Production

BASF and Encina Development Group have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to support the development of Encina’s planned circular chemicals manufacturing facility on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Under the agreement, BASF will provide advisory support during key project development stages, including procurement strategy and project execution planning, ahead of a final investment decision. The deal also gives BASF the option to participate in future project development opportunities, including potential equity investments. The collaboration expands on an existing long-term supply agreement under which BASF will source chemically recycled benzene produced from waste streams. The feedstock is expected to be used in BASF’s Ccycled® product portfolio, which serves industries such as packaging, textiles, automotive, and consumer goods. Encina uses proprietary catalytic conversion technology to transform difficult-to-recycle waste into circular chemical feedstocks compatible with existing manufacturing processes. The companies said the agreement could also serve as a framework for future circular chemicals projects in international markets. (Source: Businesswire)

PET Thermoform Recovery Hits Record 264 Million Pounds in North America, NAPCOR Reports

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) reported a record 264 million pounds of PET thermoform packaging recovered in the United States and Canada in 2024, according to its first standalone PET Thermoform Market Analysis. The report found that recovery volumes reached their highest level since NAPCOR began tracking PET thermoforms, including trays, cups, clamshells, and tubs. The increase was driven by higher concentrations of thermoforms in curbside PET collections and improvements in recovery systems. Despite stronger collection rates, the analysis highlighted challenges in expanding circularity. Post-consumer recycled PET accounted for just 12% of thermoform feedstock purchases in 2024, down from 18% a year earlier, while virgin PET represented 79% of total feedstock demand. More than 2.05 billion pounds of PET feedstock were purchased by thermoform converters during the year. NAPCOR said growing economic pressures, limited dedicated recycling infrastructure, contamination issues, and rising imports of recycled PET continue to constrain recycled-content use. The report also noted that advanced sorting technologies and evolving policies, including recycled-content mandates and extended producer responsibility programs, could help strengthen PET thermoform recycling across North America. (Source: NAPCOR)

Electra Advances Study for Proposed U.S. Battery-Grade Nickel Refinery

Electra Battery Materials Corporation has engaged engineering consultants to advance a development study for a potential battery-grade nickel refinery in the southeastern United States as part of its strategy to strengthen North America’s critical minerals supply chain. The study will assess the technical requirements, capital costs, and development pathways for a refinery capable of producing approximately 15,000 tonnes of nickel sulfate and nickel metal annually, along with 1,000 tonnes of cobalt metal. The facility would use conventional hydrometallurgical refining technologies and process globally sourced nickel intermediate feedstocks. CEO Trent Mell said the project builds on expertise gained from the company’s cobalt sulfate refinery, which remains Electra’s primary development priority and is expected to begin commissioning in the second quarter of 2027. The study will evaluate site selection, infrastructure requirements, operating parameters, and project economics. Electra said the refinery could help reduce North America’s reliance on overseas nickel refining capacity while supporting the growing battery manufacturing sector in the southeastern U.S. region. (Source: Electra Battery Materials)

Rhea’s Factory Wins Global Change Award for AI-Powered Textile Recycling Technology

Rhea’s Factory, a biotechnology company focused on plastic circularity, has been named one of 10 winners of the 2026 Global Change Award, an innovation program launched by the H&M Foundation to support early-stage solutions for the textile industry. The company was recognized for RheaCycle™, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to design enzymes capable of breaking down polyester waste into virgin-quality raw materials. According to the company, the process operates at low temperatures, requires less energy than conventional methods, and produces recycled building blocks with more than 99% purity. RheaCycle is designed to process difficult waste streams, including contaminated and blended textiles, while also supporting recycling applications in packaging and automotive sectors. As a Global Change Award winner, Rhea’s Factory will receive a €200,000 grant and participate in a year-long innovation program delivered in partnership with Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. CEO Arzu Sandıkçı said the recognition highlights the potential of AI-designed biology to create commercially viable solutions for textile-to-textile recycling. (Source: Globe NewsWire)

Global Alliance Unveils Universal Symbol for Reusable Packaging Systems

A coalition of businesses, governments, NGOs, and reuse operators led by PR3: The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse has launched the world’s first universal symbol designed to identify reusable packaging and reuse systems. The symbol was developed through Rebrand Reuse, a global design initiative that attracted 236 submissions from 29 countries. The winning design, created by Bogotá-based designers Nicole Ascanio Rodriguez and Juan Navarrete, was selected following international consumer testing and expert review. The new mark is intended to help consumers recognize packaging that is part of a reuse system, where products are collected, cleaned, and reused multiple times rather than discarded after a single use. According to PR3, the symbol can only be used on packaging and infrastructure that meet specific reuse standards, including collection, transport, sorting, washing, and redistribution processes. The launch comes as governments and businesses seek alternatives to single-use packaging amid growing concerns over plastic waste. PR3 said the symbol is already being introduced across reuse programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions to support broader adoption of circular packaging systems. (Source: pr3standards)

Beetles Gel Polish Launches Nail Bottle Recycling Program with TerraCycle

Beetles Gel Polish has partnered with TerraCycle to launch the Beetles Loves Earth Free Recycling Program, a nationwide initiative aimed at recycling empty gel polish and nail polish bottles. The program accepts dry, empty glass polish bottles from any brand, along with their plastic caps, through designated collection points across the United States. Recovered materials will be processed into raw materials for use in products such as bricks, cement, and concrete. The initiative addresses a common recycling challenge, as nail polish containers are typically excluded from curbside recycling programs due to product residue and processing complexities. To encourage participation, Beetles will offer rewards based on the number of eligible bottles returned, including coupons, products, and gift boxes. The company also plans to introduce a mail-in option to expand access for consumers in rural and remote areas. The program is part of Beetles’ broader sustainability efforts and is expected to expand to additional locations across the U.S. in the future. (Source: Beetles Gel Polish)

ABTC Wins DOE Appeal, Secures Reinstatement of Lithium Refinery Grant

American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has successfully appealed the termination of a U.S. Department of Energy grant, restoring federal funding for the first phase of its commercial-scale lithium refinery project in Nevada. The reinstated award supports a $115 million project linked to the company’s Tonopah Flats Lithium Project, one of the largest identified lithium resources in the United States. The grant was restored in full, with no changes to funding levels or project milestones, although the timeline has been adjusted to account for the review process. ABTC originally received the five-year DOE grant in 2022 to help construct a refinery with an initial production capacity of 5,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annually. The project was designated a critical mineral Priority Project by federal authorities in 2025 before the grant was terminated later that year. CEO Ryan Melsert said the decision followed extensive technical and commercial reviews and reflects continued federal support for domestic critical mineral processing. According to a 2025 pre-feasibility study, the project has an estimated after-tax net present value of $2.57 billion and a projected lithium hydroxide production cost of $4,307 per tonne. The refinery is expected to strengthen U.S. battery materials supply chains and reduce reliance on imported critical minerals. (Source: ABTC)

Orion Expands Circular Carbon Black Production to China

Orion S.A. has begun producing circular carbon black at its ISCC PLUS-certified facility in Qingdao, China, expanding the company’s global portfolio of sustainable carbon black products. The plant is manufacturing three grades—ECORAX® Circular 200, 210, and 215—using tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) as a feedstock. The products are designed for tire and rubber applications, with Circular 200 targeted primarily at tire production and Circular 210 and 215 suitable for both tires and mechanical rubber goods. CEO Corning Painter said the launch strengthens Orion’s ability to meet growing demand for circular materials while maintaining product quality and performance standards. The move follows the company’s expansion of circular carbon black production in Poland, where it launched large-scale manufacturing of ECORAX® Circular grades in 2025. Orion said the products can serve as drop-in replacements for conventional carbon black grades used by tire manufacturers. The company added that dedicated infrastructure at its China and Poland facilities enables the controlled use of tire pyrolysis oil, supporting traceable and certified circular feedstock sourcing. (Source: Orion S.A.)

Western Australia Commits $17.8 Million to Solar Panel and Battery Recycling

The Western Australian government will invest A$17.8 million in the 2026–27 State Budget to expand the recycling of solar panels and embedded batteries, supporting the development of a circular economy while reducing waste and creating local jobs. Under the state’s Remade in WA initiative, A$13 million will be used to establish collection, transport, and recycling pathways for end-of-life solar panels from households and solar farms. The government said the program will help divert waste from landfills and recover valuable materials from retired renewable energy equipment. A further A$3 million will support local governments in collecting embedded batteries found in products such as e-scooters, e-bikes, and household devices, providing safer disposal options for communities. An additional A$1.8 million has been allocated to support the ongoing delivery of both programs. Officials said the investment will strengthen Western Australia’s recycling infrastructure, attract private sector investment, and support the growth of new industries linked to clean energy and resource recovery. (Source: WA.gov.au)

BIR Calls for Recycled Plastics and Rubber to Be Recognized as Strategic Raw Materials

Industry leaders at the 2026 Bureau of International Recycling convention in Gothenburg urged policymakers and manufacturers to recognize recycled plastics and rubber as strategic raw materials essential to supply chain resilience and the circular economy. Speaking at a joint meeting of BIR’s Plastics Division and Tyres & Rubber Committee, Plastics Division President Henk Alssema warned that demand for recycled materials remains too closely tied to fluctuations in virgin plastic prices. He argued that stable, long-term demand and supportive policies are needed to justify investment in recycling capacity and innovation. Industry representatives noted that recent increases in virgin material prices, driven in part by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, have boosted demand for recycled plastics and rubber. However, they cautioned that demand could weaken again if buyers return to cheaper virgin materials once markets stabilize. Speakers also highlighted the importance of recycled-content mandates, extended producer responsibility programs, and product design focused on end-of-life recyclability. They said stronger policy support and long-term purchasing commitments are critical to maintaining recycling infrastructure and advancing circular economy goals. (Source: BIR)