SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: May 25-29, 2026

May 29, 2026

Gold Holds Gains Amid US-Iran Peace Optimism

Gold steadied near $4,500 an ounce on Friday after recovering in the previous session, as reports of a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran eased concerns over inflation and interest rate. Washington and Tehran are reportedly set to extend their ceasefire by 60 days and begin talks over Iran’s nuclear program, while also considering unrestricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Still, the report noted that President Donald Trump has not yet approved the proposed terms, while Vice President JD Vance said it remains too early to determine whether or when a deal with Iran could be finalized. Gold has faced strong selling pressure since late February as the surge in oil prices triggered by the Iran conflict fueled inflation worries and strengthened expectations for tighter monetary policy. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged this year, although policymakers continue to warn about persistent inflation risks. (Source: Trading Economics)

Bank of America Says Silver Could Hit $100 This Year, but Rally May Fade

Bank of America expects silver prices could climb to $100 an ounce by the fourth quarter, driven by investor demand and broader gains in gold, but the bank warned the rally is unlikely to be sustained as industrial demand weakens. In a recent metals research note, analysts led by Michael Widmer, head of metals research at Bank of America, said higher prices are pressuring manufacturers to reduce silver use or replace it with cheaper materials, particularly in the solar sector. The bank said demand from solar photovoltaic manufacturers likely peaked last year as elevated prices and slowing Chinese solar production weighed on consumption. BofA added that the global silver deficit could shrink sharply this year, with even modest investor selling potentially pushing the market into surplus by 2026. Despite the cautious outlook, the bank said silver remains strategically important for renewable energy technologies and could continue to benefit from geopolitical tensions and market volatility. Analysts also warned that North American trade negotiations and tariff uncertainty could tighten physical silver supplies and fuel further price swings. (Source: Kitco News)

Copper Set for Second Monthly Gain

Copper futures held steady near $6.4 per pound on Friday and were on track to register a second straight monthly advance, underpinned by renewed optimism over demand linked to the global artificial intelligence expansion and the rapid build-out of data center infrastructure. Increasing copper consumption in global power networks amid the broader shift toward cleaner energy also continued to support the demand outlook. On the supply side, production constraints in top producer Chile prompted major refiners to scale back capacity and output. At the same time, rising copper imports into the United States ahead of potential tariff measures have added to concerns over tightening global availability. On the geopolitical front, reports that the United States and Iran reached a preliminary peace agreement helped ease concerns about supply disruptions, further shaping market sentiment. (Source: Trading Economics)

Lucifer Lighting Launches Downlights Made with Recycled Ocean Plastic

Lucifer Lighting has begun mass production of architectural downlights made with recycled ocean plastic, incorporating discarded fishing nets and fishing lines into its Atomos lighting series. The Texas-based company said all plastic components in its Atomos line will now use salvaged marine plastic materials, with the updated products rebranded as Atomos Renew. The recycled material is integrated directly into the company’s injection molding process for one-inch and two-inch aperture lighting products. Roselyn Mathews said the company believes the product is the first American-made architectural downlight produced using recycled fishing-net material at commercial scale. The company expects the initiative to divert about 1,085 pounds of discarded fishing nets, or roughly 2.7 million feet of fishing line, from oceans during the first year of production. Lucifer Lighting said scaling the process presented manufacturing challenges, including sourcing consistent recycled material and overcoming quality-control issues during early production stages. Despite slightly lower profit margins compared with virgin plastic, the company said it moved forward because of the environmental benefits. (Source: Dazeen)

EU Launches Digital Waste Shipment System to Tighten Recycling Controls

European Union has launched a new digital platform to manage waste shipments across member states as part of reforms under the revised EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EUWSR). The Digital Waste Shipment System, known as Diwass, replaces paper-based procedures with a centralized electronic platform designed to track waste movements and improve coordination between regulators and businesses. The system became operational as the regulation entered a new implementation phase on May 21. The European Commission said the platform is intended to improve transparency, traceability and enforcement in cross-border waste trade by enabling data sharing between national authorities and commercial software systems. The reforms also introduce tighter controls on plastic waste exports. Shipments of plastic scrap to non-OECD countries are now broadly banned, while exports to OECD countries will face stricter oversight requirements. Although the system is not mandatory for U.K. operators, exporters using EU transit routes or destinations may still rely on the platform. Northern Ireland carriers must comply under EU rules. (Source: Recycling International)

International Paper Breaks Ground on $225 Million Mississippi Packaging Plant

International Paper has begun construction on a new corrugated packaging facility in Brandon, Mississippi, as the company expands production capacity in the U.S. Mid-South region. The $225 million project will include a 468,000-square-foot packaging plant built on an 80-acre site in Rankin County’s East Metro Center. The facility will replace the company’s existing box plant in nearby Richland and is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2027. Company executives joined Mississippi officials, customers and community representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony. Keith Townsend said the new facility would strengthen the company’s manufacturing network through improved automation, safety and operational efficiency. Tate Reeves said the project reflects growing industrial investment momentum in the state. International Paper said employees at the Richland site are expected to transition to the new plant once construction is complete. The announcement follows the company’s recent acquisition of a corrugated packaging facility in Delaware as part of its broader growth strategy. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

PureCycle’s Thailand Recycling Project Added to Fast-Track Investment Program

PureCycle Technologies said its Thailand subsidiary has been accepted into the country’s FastPass Investment Acceleration Program, giving the company expedited access to approvals and permits for its planned polypropylene recycling facility in Rayong. The program, administered by the Thailand Board of Investment, is aimed at large-scale strategic projects that use advanced technologies and are expected to deliver significant economic benefits. PureCycle’s FastPass certification is valid through the end of 2028. The planned facility will be located within the eco-industrial zone operated by IRPC Public Company Limited in Rayong and forms part of PureCycle’s strategy to reach one billion pounds of installed polypropylene recycling capacity by 2030. CEO Dustin Olson said the selection reflects Thailand’s support for the project’s technology and economic potential, while Vice President Wiebe Schipper described the project as a potential cornerstone of Thailand’s circular plastics economy. To retain FastPass status, PureCycle must invest at least 20% of the project’s declared investment value within six months. (Source: PureCycle)

Reconomy’s Reverse Logistics Group Joins Cibutex to Support Circular B2B Textiles

Reconomy said its Reverse Logistics Group (RLG) division has joined Cibutex, a European network focused on advancing circularity in the business-to-business textile sector. Cibutex, a nonprofit organization based in Amsterdam, brings together textile producers, industrial laundry providers and recyclers across the EU and Switzerland to support the transition to a circular textile economy. RLG, which manages more than 40 producer responsibility organizations and take-back systems across 15 countries, said the partnership will allow it to contribute regulatory and operational expertise while expanding its network of textile sorting and recycling partners. The collaboration comes as the B2B textile sector faces increasing pressure to improve recycling and material recovery. Reconomy said recent research found that although B2B textiles are often easier to recycle than consumer textiles, large-scale circular systems remain limited due to fragmented collection networks, weak end markets and insufficient data visibility. The companies said the partnership aims to help scale more effective closed-loop and open-loop textile recycling systems across Europe. (Source: Reconomy)

Sappi and UPM to Combine Graphic Paper Operations in Joint Venture

Sappi Ltd. and UPM-Kymmene Corp. have agreed to form a 50/50 joint venture combining their European graphic paper businesses in a move aimed at consolidating operations in a declining market segment. The new independent company will include Sappi’s graphic paper mills in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with UPM’s communication paper assets across Europe, the U.K. and the United States. The combined business is valued at about 1.42 billion euros ($1.66 billion), excluding expected synergies. The companies said the venture is expected to generate around 100 million euros in annual synergies through operational efficiencies, logistics optimization and product portfolio rationalization. Sappi CEO Steve Binnie said the agreement provides a path toward a more sustainable future for the company’s European paper operations, while UPM CEO Massimo Reynaudo said the deal would strengthen supply continuity and improve industry resilience. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. Both companies said the move supports broader strategies to shift focus toward growth segments such as packaging, specialty papers and pulp. (Source: Sappi)

European Recycling Groups Warn Against Proposed Aluminum Scrap Export Restrictions

Recycling Europe and several European recycling and metals companies have urged the European Commission to reconsider potential restrictions on aluminum scrap exports, warning the measures could damage Europe’s recycling industry and disrupt circular economy goals. In a joint letter addressed to European Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, the organizations argued that claims of aluminum scrap shortages in Europe do not reflect current market conditions. The signatories included industry associations and companies such as Derichebourg, Stena Recycling and Suez. The concerns follow discussions within the European Commission on possible measures to limit exports of recycled aluminum under the upcoming REsourceEU Action Plan. The groups said Europe’s recycling sector already supplies significant volumes of recycled aluminum and warned that export restrictions could reduce investment, weaken recycling operations and leave recyclable materials unprocessed. They also called for evidence-based policymaking and alternative measures focused on improving energy affordability, regulatory alignment and demand for recycled content rather than restricting trade. (Source: Recycling Europe)

APR and ANIPAC Partner to Strengthen Plastics Recycling in Mexico

Association of Plastic Recyclers and ANIPAC have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at improving plastics recyclability and advancing circular economy practices across Mexico’s plastics industry. The partnership will focus on promoting international design-for-recycling standards, expanding technical training and supporting stronger markets for post-consumer recycled plastics. The two organizations said the collaboration will encourage best practices throughout the plastics value chain, including packaging design, collection, recycling and material reintegration. APR, North America’s largest plastics recycling-focused nonprofit, will provide technical guidance and recyclability criteria, while ANIPAC will support implementation across Mexico’s plastics sector, which includes resin producers, recyclers, machinery suppliers and converters. Steve Alexander said regional cooperation is critical to improving recycling infrastructure and harmonizing technical standards across North America. Benjamín del Arco said the agreement would help strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of Mexico’s plastics industry while aligning the sector with global recyclability trends. The organizations also plan to collaborate on technical exchanges, regulatory information sharing and joint recycling initiatives. (Source: Association of Plastic Recyclers)