The global plastics industry is in the midst of one of its most consequential transformations. With governments, manufacturers, recyclers, technology providers, brand owners and investors placing growing emphasis on circularity, the conversation has shifted beyond how plastics are produced to encompass how they are collected, sorted, recycled and returned to the economy.

It is against this backdrop that the PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will convene industry leaders, innovators and sustainability professionals to examine the challenges and opportunities defining the future of plastic recycling, sustainable materials and the circular economy. The conference is positioned as a forum for substantive industry dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders from across the global plastics value chain, with topics spanning recycling infrastructure and feedstock availability to advanced technologies, policy developments, supply-chain resilience and sustainable business models.

Dubai, which continues to consolidate its standing as an international hub for innovation, sustainability and global business, will host the gathering, offering industry leaders from different regions the opportunity to come together, exchange perspectives and explore practical approaches to accelerating the transition towards a more circular plastics economy.

A Platform for Industry Collaboration

Plastic recycling has grown steadily more complex. The sector must manage rising volumes of waste, evolving regulatory requirements, fluctuating feedstock availability, mounting demand for high-quality recycled materials and the imperative to develop circular solutions that are economically viable.

The transition towards circularity cannot be achieved by any single actor; it requires cooperation across the entire value chain. Recyclers need dependable access to quality feedstock. Manufacturers need recycled materials that meet performance requirements. Brands face intensifying pressure to improve sustainability and reduce dependence on virgin plastic. Governments and regulators, meanwhile, must develop frameworks that encourage innovation while supporting long-term investment.

PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 aims to create a platform where these different perspectives can converge. Organisers say the event will move discussions beyond theory and focus on practical challenges, real-world experiences, emerging technologies and strategies that can support the development of stronger and more resilient recycling ecosystems.

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

Confirmed Speakers

The conference will feature an international group of speakers representing 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

Collectively, the 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 nature of the plastics recycling sector. Addressing the challenges facing the industry, organisers note, 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 topics currently allocated to confirmed speakers are:

Opening Remarks

Speaker: Anas Jawed, CEO, Next Business Media

The conference will begin with opening remarks setting the context for the discussions ahead. The session will focus on the importance of industry collaboration and the growing need for practical solutions that support the transition towards 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 influenced by changing regulations, market conditions, logistics challenges and international trade. This session will address the importance of building resilient recycling ecosystems capable of adapting to changing 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 is set to 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, digitalisation and innovations that can improve the efficiency of sorting and material recovery.

Collaboration stands as another central theme. No individual 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 develop stronger industry connections.

Attending Companies and Industry Representation

The event 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 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 provide an opportunity to recognise leadership while also 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 precisely 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.

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 towards a more sustainable and circular future. PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026 will be a meeting point for the people and organisations working to make that transition possible.