A huge thank you to IQ Reseller for sponsoring today’s newsletter!

IQ Reseller provides a specialised ERP platform for IT resellers, brokers and ITAD operators, designed to manage the full lifecycle of secondary IT equipment.
The platform brings together inventory, asset tracking, procurement, sales and financial workflows in one system, helping businesses maintain control, accuracy and visibility across their operations.
Industry News
Collaborations and Partnerships:
Trafigura signs $1.1bn deal with Nth Cycle to secure recycled battery metals supply. The agreement covers long-term offtake of materials including lithium and nickel from recycling feedstock. Read more.
Barratt Redrow adopts Nexus ReGen platform to manage construction material reuse. The system enables tracking and redistribution of materials across sites, reducing waste and supporting more circular construction practices. Read more.
Kraft Heinz partners with Polytag to track plastic packaging through the recycling system. The initiative uses invisible UV tags to generate real-time, barcode-level data on how packaging is collected, sorted and recycled. Read more.
Company Updates:
Vinted passes €1bn in revenue as secondhand demand accelerates. The platform reported 47% year-on-year GMV growth to over €10bn in 2025, driven by expansion into new categories and markets. Read more.
ShipMonk opens apparel-focused fulfilment centre in Louisville. The facility is designed to handle SKU complexity, returns and rework for apparel brands, supporting more efficient reverse logistics operations. Read more.
Amazon to end support for older Kindle devices, prompting user backlash. The move will see some models lose access to updates and services, raising concerns over device longevity. Read more.
Tuurny deploys AI to recover reusable components from e-waste. The system uses robotics to extract materials like RAM from discarded electronics, creating a secondary supply stream for constrained components. Read more.
Regional Developments:
Global plastic recycling rates remain stuck below 10% despite rising waste volumes. Less than one tenth of plastic is recycled globally, with most still produced from virgin fossil-based feedstock as collection and processing systems struggle to keep pace. Read more.
One in ten UK consumers now choose secondhand as their first option. KPMG data shows 8% of shoppers primarily buy non-grocery goods via resale platforms, rising to 15% among younger consumers as demand for pre-owned continues to grow. Read more.
Portugal rolls out nationwide deposit return system for beverage packaging. The Volta scheme introduces a €0.10 deposit and a national collection network, targeting higher recycling rates for plastic bottles and cans. Read more.\
Investment News
M&A:
Paladin acquires ICT to strengthen ITAD presence in Ireland and Europe. The deal forms part of a $70m acquisition drive across the US and Europe, adding certified data destruction and electronics processing capabilities in a key data centre market. Read more.
Closed Loop Partners acquires Sutter Metals to expand its US metals recovery platform. The deal adds a processor of high-value scrap, supporting increased domestic supply of critical materials across industrial value chains. Read more.
Inspirit Capital acquires Converge UK in carve-out from international parent. The deal returns the IT lifecycle services provider to independent ownership, with plans to invest in capabilities and expand its sustainable IT offering. Read more.
Kuusakoski acquires Tramel to expand electronics recycling operations in Finland. The deal adds seven sites, €7.5m in revenue and over 60 employees, increasing capacity across e-scrap collection and processing. Read more.
Avena acquires Race Recycling to strengthen its UK textile recycling capabilities. The deal brings Race’s operations into the group, adding capacity across collection, processing and recycling of textiles. Read more.
Venture and Growth Capital:
Circular Plastics Netherlands launches €40m funding call for plastic recycling infrastructure. The programme targets projects focused on improving the collection, sorting and processing of plastic waste. Read more.
Two Boxes raises $3.2m to advance AI-powered returns processing. The platform uses automation and image-based intelligence to improve inspection, reduce fraud and return inventory to stock faster. Read more.
Unspun plans to raise $40m to scale 3D weaving for on-demand apparel production. The funding will support deployment of automated microfactories, using near-zero-waste technology that weaves garments directly from yarn. Read more.
Altilium secures £18.5m from the UK government to scale EV battery recycling. The funding will support its ACT3 facility, set to become the UK’s first commercial-scale refinery for recovering critical materials from end-of-life batteries. Read more.
Want to generate new partnerships or inbound opportunities in 2026?
Explore the Circular Connect Directory, now featuring 1,000+ companies across reverse logistics, circularity and sustainability.
Have a great weekend and we’ll see you again on Monday.
Cheers to circularity,
#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy