Page 76 from: Recycling International September/October 2025
68
FIRST CERTIFICATE FOR ‘RESPONSIBLE’ SHIP RECYCLING
GMS, the world’s largest buyer of ships for recycling, has issued the first
‘ready for recycling’ certificate to mark tighter restrictions under the Hong
Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound
Recycling of Ships (HKC).
The International Ready for Recycling Certificate (IRRC) has been issued by the
Liberian Registry for the end-of-life treatment of the vessel R Pisces.
According to GMS, the IRRC confirms that the vessel meets all required condi-
tions under the HKC, including the treatment of hazardous materials, an
approved ship recycling plan and the use of a recycling facility with valid
authorisation.
R Pisces is scheduled to be recycled at Leela Responsible Recycling in Alang, India.
Vishaal Raj Soni, Leela group ceo, said the company was honoured that the first
IRRC issued under the HKC had gone to Alang.
‘This reflects the effectiveness of a collaborative approach between shipown-
ers, cash buyers, flag administrations and certified recycling facilities. At Leela,
we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety,
environmental protection, and compliance as set out in the Convention.’
‘This achievement is not just a certificate. It represents a benchmark for how
the future of ship recycling should be approached.’
GMS senior trader Faidon Panagiotopoulos called the development a signifi-
cant step forward for ship recycling. ‘It demonstrates that regulatory compli-
ance and responsible asset disposal are achievable through preparation, tech-
nical knowledge, and cooperation between all parties involved.’
‘GMS remains committed to environmentally responsible ship recycling and has
supported the principles behind the Convention well before it entered into
force.’
CONSTELLIUM TAKES OFF FOR GREEN
ALUMINIUM LANDING
Aluminium pro-
ducer and recy-
cler Constellium
has partnered
with Tarmac
Aerosave to take
aircraft recycling
to new heights.
Following months
of collaborative
research and
development, Constellium has successfully remelted aluminium
recovered by Tarmac Aerosave from retired commercial aircraft.
The material is being recycled into new, top quality material suit-
able for aerospace applications.
Players supporting this effort include Airbus and ValoER who
declare the recycled aluminium supports circular economy goals in
the aviation sector without compromising material performance.
Constellium wants to scale up the process for industrial applica-
tions, extending it to any aluminium alloy used in aircraft. The
company’s global recycling capacity exceeds 750 000 tonnes
annually
‘The circularity of aeronautical materials is at the heart of our
DNA,’ says Alexandre Brun, ceo of Tarmac Aerosave. ‘Aluminium
is one of the materials that we have always sought to sort and
recover in the best possible way in order to increase our recycling
rate. This is now more than 92%.
‘We’re proud to have joined forces with partners who share our
commitment to advancing circular solutions for aviation.’
INDIA INVESTS IN CIRCULAR YARN PRODUCTION
Yarn producer Filatex India is investing EUR 29 million to
establish a 75-tonne-per-day polyester recycling plant. The
facility will likely start operations in September 2026.
The new recycling plant will serve as a pilot before Filatex repli-
cates the model globally. The company is also planning capacity
expansion of around 150 tonnes in the next few years, along with
renewable energy initiatives.
Filatex managing
director Madhu
Sudhan Bhageria
comments: ‘We have
developed and pat-
ented a technology
to recycle textile
waste into chips,
which can then be
spun into yarn. This is
the solution the world
is looking for.’
Polyester now
accounts for nearly
70% of global fibre
consumption. ‘Over the last 20 years, 95% of incremental textile
demand has been met by man-made fibres,’ Bhageria says.
Filatex is a family-owned business, headquartered in New Delhi,
with over 30 years of recycling experience. It holds around 8% of
India’s polyester yarn market. The company processes 1 000
tonnes of textiles daily, supplying customers in China, Korea,
Thailand, Germany and Japan.
India, home to 1.4 billion people, is experiencing steady eco-
nomic growth. Market analysts expect GDP to reach EUR 3.4 tril-
lion this year, with growth estimated at 6.7% in fiscal year 2025-
26.
The nation’s recycling industry is currently worth over EUR 762
million, projected to exceed EUR 1.1 billion by 2030. This repre-
sents 8.5% compound annual growth from 2025 to 2030.
The textiles recycling segment generates almost EUR 285 million
in annual revenue. India’s capacity to recycle polyester from bot-
tles into textile materials is projected to surpass 1.6 million
tonnes per annum by 2030, signalling a significant increase in
recycling infrastructure.
Filatex underlines increasing demand in polyester use in sports-
wear and fast fashion makes polyester recycling an incredibly
interesting market.
advanced-recycling.eu
Exploring the Future
of Advanced Recycling
• Markets, Investments & Policy
• Circular Economy & Ecology of Plastics
• Physical & Biochemical Recycling
• Chemical & Thermochemical Recycling
• Other Advanced Recycling Technologies
• Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
• Upgrading, Pre- and Post-treatment
Technologies
• Digital Solutions (e.g. AI & Blockchain)
19–20 November • Cologne (Germany)
ADVANCED
RECYCLING
Conference 2025
68-69-70-71-72_trendsupdatesiiadvert.indd 68 09-09-2025 15:38
