The global plastics industry is going through one of its most significant transformations. As governments, manufacturers, recyclers, technology providers, brand owners and investors place growing emphasis on circularity, the future of plastics is no longer defined solely by how materials are produced, but by how they are collected, sorted, recycled and returned to the economy.

The policy environment is reinforcing this shift. Negotiations toward a global plastics treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme have put international attention on plastic pollution, while the European Union's packaging rules mandate recycled content in plastic packaging. For brands and manufacturers selling into regulated markets, access to reliable supplies of high-quality recycled material is becoming a competitive necessity rather than a voluntary commitment.

Set against this backdrop, the PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will bring together industry leaders, innovators and sustainability professionals to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of plastic recycling, sustainable materials and the circular economy.

The conference is intended as a venue for meaningful industry dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders from across the global plastics value chain. From recycling infrastructure and feedstock availability to advanced technologies, policy developments, supply-chain resilience and sustainable business models, PolyNext will address the issues influencing the industry's next phase.

Dubai, which continues to strengthen its position as an international hub for innovation, sustainability and global business, will host the event. The United Arab Emirates has positioned sustainability as a national priority, and the Gulf region's growing investment in waste management and recycling infrastructure makes Dubai a fitting meeting point between European, Asian and Middle Eastern value-chain players. The PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will give industry leaders from different regions an opportunity to meet, exchange perspectives and explore practical approaches to accelerating the transition toward a more circular plastics economy.

A Platform for Industry Collaboration

Plastic recycling is becoming increasingly complex. The industry must manage growing volumes of waste, changing regulatory requirements, fluctuating feedstock availability, rising demand for high-quality recycled materials and the need to develop economically viable circular solutions.

Achieving circularity requires collaboration throughout the entire value chain. Recyclers need reliable access to quality feedstock; manufacturers need recycled materials that meet performance requirements; brands face mounting pressure to improve sustainability and reduce dependence on virgin plastic; and governments and regulators must build frameworks that encourage innovation while supporting long-term investment.

The PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 is designed as a platform where these perspectives can converge. The event will move discussions beyond theory and concentrate on practical challenges, real-world experiences, emerging technologies and strategies that can support stronger and more resilient recycling ecosystems.

The conference will also offer networking and engagement opportunities for professionals representing recycling companies, polymer producers, waste-management organisations, technology providers, packaging companies, sustainability specialists and other key stakeholders.

Confirmed Speakers

PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will feature an international group of speakers spanning different areas of the plastics, recycling, sustainability and circular-economy ecosystem. The confirmed speakers include:

• Anas Jawed — CEO, Next Business Media
• Sven Jacobi — Founder, MBRC the ocean
• Mohammad Ishaq — Sourcing Manager, Ravago Recycling Middle East
• Nima Vakili — Founder and CEO, Safa BioWorks
• Tobias Lind — CEO, THEVINYL AB
• Mike Thompson — Owner and Co-founder, Blu Sky Technical Services Ltd
• Rémi Cesaro — Founder and Director, Zero Waste City
• Dirk-Jan Kootstra — Founder and Managing Director, Quattra-P
• Vikas Chhajer — CEO, Gemcorp Recycling & Technologies Pvt. Ltd
• Kaavyanjali — Member, Healing Al Hajar
• Le Anh — Sustainability Director, DUYTAN Recycling
• Saeed Al Shamsi — Chairman, EXHub Holding

Together, these speakers bring experience from recycling operations, sustainable business development, technology, environmental initiatives, material recovery, circular-economy strategies and international industry collaboration. Their participation reflects the increasingly multidisciplinary character of the plastics recycling sector. Addressing the industry's challenges requires more than recycling capacity alone; it demands stronger connections between technology, policy, supply chains, business strategy and sustainability.

Conference Agenda: Confirmed Speaker Sessions

The PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 agenda will focus on the issues shaping the future of plastic recycling and circularity. Among the agenda topics currently allocated to confirmed speakers are the following.

Opening Remarks

Speaker: Anas Jawed, CEO, Next Business Media

The conference will open with remarks setting the context for the discussions ahead. The session will highlight the importance of industry collaboration and the growing need for practical solutions that support the transition toward a more sustainable and circular plastics ecosystem.

Ensuring Business Continuity in the Face of Supply Chain Disruptions in Plastic Recycling Ecosystems

Speaker: Vikas Chhajer, CEO, Gemcorp Recycling & Technologies Pvt. Ltd

Supply-chain disruption remains one of the major challenges facing the global recycling industry. The availability, quality and movement of recyclable materials can be affected by changing regulations, market conditions, logistics challenges and international trade. Recent years have also seen restrictions on cross-border shipments of plastic waste under amendments to the Basel Convention, which have reshaped traditional trade routes for recyclables and added compliance complexity for recyclers sourcing feedstock internationally.

This session will address the importance of building resilient recycling ecosystems capable of adapting to shifting market and supply-chain conditions. The discussion will explore how recycling businesses can strengthen operational continuity, diversify supply sources and develop strategies that support long-term resilience. As the recycling sector continues to grow, supply-chain stability will become increasingly important for companies investing in recycling infrastructure and recycled-material production.

Key Themes Shaping the Conversation

Beyond the confirmed speaker sessions, PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will bring the industry together around some of the most important developments affecting the sector. These include improving recycling infrastructure, strengthening feedstock collection systems, increasing recycled-content adoption, improving material traceability and developing more effective circular-economy business models.

The industry is also seeing growing interest in advanced recycling technologies — such as chemical and dissolution-based processes that can handle plastics that mechanical recycling struggles with — alongside digitalisation and innovations that can improve the efficiency of sorting and material recovery.

Collaboration is another central theme. No single organisation can independently solve the challenges associated with global plastic waste. Progress requires coordination between governments, municipalities, waste-management companies, recyclers, manufacturers and brand owners. Events such as PolyNext provide an environment where these stakeholders can share knowledge and build stronger industry connections.

Attending Companies and Industry Representation

The PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will bring together professionals and organisations representing different parts of the global plastics and recycling value chain. The participating ecosystem includes companies and organisations from sectors such as:

• Plastic recycling and waste management
• Polymer manufacturing and processing
• Sustainable materials
• Packaging and manufacturing
• Recycling technology
• Circular-economy solutions
• Environmental sustainability
• Waste collection and material recovery
• Supply-chain management
• Industrial innovation
• Sustainability consulting
• Investment and business development

Among the organisations represented through the confirmed speakers are MBRC the ocean, Ravago Recycling Middle East, Safa BioWorks, THEVINYL AB, Blu Sky Technical Services Ltd, Zero Waste City, Quattra-P, Gemcorp Recycling & Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Healing Al Hajar, DUYTAN Recycling and EXHub Holding. This diversity of representation is expected to support a broader exchange of perspectives between companies operating at different stages of the plastics value chain.

Recognising Industry Leadership

The PolyNext Awards will also recognise companies, projects and professionals contributing to progress in plastic recycling, sustainability and circular-economy development. Recognition plays an important role in highlighting organisations that are turning sustainability commitments into measurable action. From recycling innovation and material recovery to sustainable manufacturing and circular business models, the awards aim to celebrate achievements that are helping move the industry forward. The awards ceremony will offer an opportunity to recognise leadership while encouraging further innovation and collaboration across the sector.

Looking Towards a More Circular Future

The future of the plastics industry will depend on the ability of stakeholders to create systems that keep valuable materials in circulation for longer. Recycling alone is not the complete solution: the industry must also improve collection, product design, material selection, sorting, traceability and end-market development. A truly circular economy requires a coordinated approach that connects each stage of the value chain.

PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will provide a platform for these conversations. By bringing together recyclers, manufacturers, sustainability professionals, technology providers and industry leaders, the event aims to support the exchange of ideas that can contribute to practical and scalable solutions. For attendees and observers alike, the discussions around feedstock resilience, advanced recycling and recycled-content adoption will be worth watching as indicators of where the sector's practical priorities are heading.

The challenges facing the industry are significant, but so are the opportunities. With continued innovation, stronger collaboration and a shared commitment to responsible material management, the global plastics sector has the potential to move toward a more sustainable and circular future. PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will serve as a meeting point for the people and organisations working to make that transition possible.

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