Jessica Morgan-Smith, Partner at MPG, believes that despite strong policy ambition for a circular economy, misalignment and inefficiencies within planning and environmental permitting regimes are becoming the key bottlenecks to delivering the infrastructure needed to make it a reality.

The aspirations to deliver circular infrastructure and a wider circular economy cannot be designed separately from the regimes that intend to deliver and regulate them.

However, as it stands, the urgency to deliver a circular economy isn’t matched by a system designed to facilitate it quickly. The UK cannot deliver a truly circular economy without rapidly expanding recycling and resource-recovery infrastructure.

Navigating planning and environmental permitting is increasingly becoming the most significant barrier to building the facilities needed for the transition. Whether this is because of operator or regulator misunderstanding, a system that is not fit-for-purpose, or a combination of both, remains to be seen.

Removing the bottleneck

In November 2024, the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce was established to support the development of England’s first circular economy strategy. It brings together leaders from industry, academia and society to co-design policies and practical mechanisms that keep materials in use for longer, improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.

The taskforce’s objectives include driving economic growth through investment in circular technologies and infrastructure, creating skilled green jobs, strengthening supply chains, lowering costs for consumers and accelerating progress towards net zero emissions. Overall, it plays a central role in guiding the transition from a traditional ‘take, make, dispose’ model to a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.

The establishment of the Circular Economy Taskforce cemented the UK’s ambitions to really focus on progressing and delivering a circular future. Alongside this, the government has set ambitious goals for waste reduction, recycling and resource efficiency as part of its wider climate and sustainability agenda.

Achieving the government’s ambitions requires additional and appropriate infrastructure. Materials do not recycle themselves! They must be collected, sorted, processed and transformed into secondary raw materials through a network of recycling plants, transfer stations, treatment facilities and specialist recovery operations.

Yet the sector faces a growing contradiction. While the government increasingly encourages circular resource use, the systems responsible for approving new infrastructure, namely planning and environmental permitting, often struggle to keep pace with the scale and urgency of development required.

The result is that many viable projects are delayed, redesigned beyond recognition, or abandoned long before they ever process their first tonne of material.

At a strategic level, most Planning Authorities recognise the need for waste and recycling infrastructure. National and Regional policies frequently encourage facilities that support recycling, recovery, and resource efficiency. And whilst the circular economy is no longer just a theory, it is still not fully acknowledged from a national planning policy perspective.

The current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) does not mention the term ‘circular economy’. However, the December 2025 draft has the following policy proposed, which gives us some hope:

“PM3: Minerals and waste plans 1. Minerals and waste plans should set out specific proposals to facilitate a sufficient supply of minerals to meet society’s needs and enable the delivery of sustainable waste management and a circular economy.”

The biggest challenge, however, tends to emerge at the local planning stage. Waste and recycling facilities are rarely popular neighbours. Concerns about traffic, noise, dust, odour and visual impact are very common, even with the stringent modern requirements on new facilities and the lengthy planning consultation process.

Local authorities are therefore placed in a difficult position, balancing national infrastructure needs against local political and community pressure whilst ensuring no harm is caused to people or the environment in the process.

In many cases, planning applications are refused or delayed because of perceived environmental impacts rather than evidenced risks. The irony is that these same communities depend on recycling infrastructure to manage their waste sustainably.

Without local facilities, materials travel further, emissions increase and recycling performance in the local authority, and subsequently nationally, can ultimately decline.

Materials do not recycle themselves!

Alongside planning permission, most recycling and waste treatment facilities require an environmental permit to operate. Environmental permitting, regulated in England by the Environment Agency, ensures that waste sites operate in a way that protects human health and the environment by controlling emissions, managing risks and enforcing legal compliance. It sounds simple, but the regulatory framework has grown increasingly complex over time.

Operators must often produce extensive technical documentation to support permit applications in a bid to control potential risks from sites and reduce the potential impact. These can include management plans for noise, dust, odour, fire, for example.

For large or complex facilities, the preparation of these documents can take months and require significant specialist input, often resulting in infrastructure changes to meet the stringent requirements of regulations.

This level of scrutiny is important, but the process has, in our experience, often become disproportionate, particularly for lower-risk recycling activities when regulators, planners and operators interpret requirements differently.

In practice, the regulatory journey can involve several stages:

1. Planning application
2. Environmental permit application
3. Technical queries and additional information requests
4. Public consultation
5. Permit and Planning determination

Each step adds time and uncertainty. One of the biggest challenges facing investors in recycling infrastructure is uncertainty. Developing a new facility requires major up-front investment in land, buildings and specialist processing equipment, often running into millions of pounds before any operations commence.

Investors must therefore be confident that a project can secure both planning permission and environmental permits within a predictable timeframe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Projects may encounter:

• Extended regulatory determination periods due to a lack of appropriate experience with the regulators or complex operational requirements.
• Changing guidance or interpretation of rules.
• Requests for further assessments are made late in the process.
• Inconsistencies between regulators or regions.

Where regulatory clarity is lacking, developers may simply decide that projects are too risky to pursue, which has real consequences on the future of the circular economy. When recycling and recovery capacity fail to keep pace with waste generation, several outcomes are likely:

• Increased exports of waste materials.
• Greater reliance on landfill or energy recovery.
• Lost opportunities to recover valuable resources.
• Higher costs for local authorities and businesses.

In effect, the circular economy becomes constrained, not by technology or demand, but by regulatory bottlenecks. This is particularly relevant as the UK looks to implement policies, such as extended producer responsibility, deposit return schemes and consistent collections.

These reforms will increase the volume and diversity of recyclable materials entering the system. Without sufficient processing capacity, these materials may struggle to find a home.

The planning and permitting systems are not inherently broken, as is often suggested by frustrated consultants and developers! Both play vital roles in protecting communities and the environment. The issue lies in alignment.

Planning authorities, environmental regulators and policymakers often operate within separate frameworks with different priorities and timelines.

As a result, developers must independently navigate multiple regulatory processes that are technically linked but operationally disconnected, with, as we regularly find, often contradictory requirements.

Improving coordination between these systems could significantly accelerate infrastructure delivery.

Potential improvements could include:

• Joint pre-application discussions involving planners and environmental regulators can identify potential issues early, reducing the risk of redesign later.
• Lower-risk recycling operations should benefit from streamlined permitting processes where appropriate, which we understand the EA are currently exploring through the increased issue and use of standard rules permits.
• Clearer guidance on issues, such as waste classification, end-of-waste criteria and environmental controls, would help developers design compliant facilities from the outset.
• National and regional strategies should identify priority locations for recycling infrastructure, helping local authorities support appropriate development.

The transition to a circular economy is often discussed in terms of innovation, technology and behavioural change, but at its core, circularity depends on something more tangible, places where materials can be processed and transformed into new resources.

Recycling plants, transfer stations, sorting facilities and specialist treatment sites are the engines of the circular economy. Without them, the system simply cannot function.

The UK already has many of the expertise, technology and private investment opportunities needed to progress a circular economy. What it needs now is a planning and regulatory environment that enables it.

If the country is serious about reducing waste, increasing recycling and building a more resource-efficient economy, then accelerating the development and regulation of recycling infrastructure must become a national priority. Otherwise, the circular economy risks remaining an aspiration rather than a reality.

The post Why planning and permitting could be the real bottleneck to circular infrastructure appeared first on Circular Online.

Digital assets are gradually becoming a part of everyday finance and enterprise operations in many ways. The cryptocurrency market has a total capitalization of almost $3 trillion, which clearly indicates how digital assets have gained traction. Even with the growing use of digital assets, the emphasis on digital asset compliance will increase in 2026. As a matter of fact, regulators will expect digital assets to follow the same compliance guidelines as the ones for banks and established financial firms.

In the digital asset landscape, ensuring compliance is more than just a legal necessity and plays a major role in boosting trust and sustainability. 

• The 2025 Crypto Crime Report released by Chainalysis shows that the total volume of illicit crypto activity in 2024 was almost more than $40 billion (Source). 
• The Annual Crypto & Compliance Market Study by StarCompliance revealed that 63% of companies worldwide don’t need pre-approval to allow employees to trade crypto (Source).

It is important to understand the value of compliance in fostering innovation with digital assets and global financial safety. If you are a business leader navigating different possibilities with digital assets, then you must learn to use compliance as a strategic advantage.

Breaking the Definition of Digital Asset Compliance into Simple Terms

The umbrella of digital assets that an enterprise uses has expanded and now includes cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, RWA tokens and CBDCs. While some of these new assets, like CBDCs, fall under the scrutiny of central monetary authorities, the regulatory guidelines for other assets are still evolving. 

The search for answers to “What is digital asset compliance?” will show that it focuses on a framework of rules and standards to ensure that digital asset transactions are,

• Transparent
• Legal 
• Secure

The scope of compliance for digital assets not only applies to cryptocurrencies but also to tokenized assets on blockchain networks. In simple words, compliance ensures that all types of activities with digital assets align with industry best practices and regulations. It provides safeguards against criminal activity, data breaches and fraud and builds a strong foundation of trust in digital assets.

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Why is Digital Asset Compliance a Huge Challenge?

Everyone must be wondering why compliance for digital assets has become a big point of discussion for business leaders worldwide. It is reasonable to believe that every business owner would want their digital asset investment to deliver favorable results. However, failure in compliance can lead to huge penalties and loss of reputation for organizations.

The SEC imposed a penalty of $46 million on a crypto mining company in August 2025, which clearly shows that regulators are taking digital assets seriously (Source). You will also come across many factors which create significance challenges in achieving compliance for digital assets.

• Complexity in Digital Asset Regulations

The laws and regulations for digital assets are extremely complex and so are the workflows designed to implement them. As a business leader, you will experience many struggles in understanding relevant regulations for digital assets. It is also important to know that designing effective implementation plans for compliance looks easier than done.

• Evolving Rules and Laws

The next big challenge for a business looking for compliance with digital asset regulations is the introduction of new laws and rules. The digital asset landscape is growing with innovative technological advancements and new regulations have to be put in place to maintain pace with the emerging changes. Therefore, business leaders have to face huge challenges in understanding the implications of new rules and adapting to them. 

• Different Jurisdiction, Different Regulations

Probably the biggest challenge for businesses working with digital assets is the difference in regulations across different regions. You should know that laws for digital asset securities will not be the same in two countries. As a result, compliance may sometimes feel like solving a large jigsaw puzzle. Enterprises will need adaptability and strong legal teams to navigate the differences in digital asset regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

• Technical Challenges

The legal challenges in compliance for digital assets are not the only thing you should be worried about. You must also pay attention to the technical challenges that come with compliance for digital assets. Organizations have to deal with the complexity of implementing different tools for identity verification, data verification and transaction monitoring. Without the relevant technical resources and expertise, implementing compliance can be a daunting task for businesses using digital assets. 

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What are the Core Components of Digital Asset Compliance?

Many business leaders end up browsing through endless pages of regulatory documents to find relevant pointers for compliance. Before you learn about digital asset law and regulations, you should understand the core pillars of compliance for digital assets. You must understand the core aspects that help you build compliance like a well-built structure with the assurance of stability and security.

• Know Your Customer Procedures

When you hear the term ‘Know Your Customer’ or KYC, you are likely to assume that it is just a point in your bureaucratic checklist. On the contrary, KYC serves as one of the strongest safeguards against digital asset fraud. KYC focuses on verification of customer identities with the help of government-issued IDs. As a result, it ensures that legitimate businesses and individuals are involved in digital asset transactions.

• Anti-Money Laundering Procedures

The most common term that you will notice alongside KYC is anti-money laundering or AML. Businesses must rely on AML procedures in digital asset compliance to ensure safety from illicit activities with digital assets. Businesses must follow relevant AML regulations for monitoring transactions, maintaining comprehensive record-keeping practices and reporting suspicious activities. Paying attention to AML procedures is a proven solution to prevent the exploitation of digital asset platforms by malicious actors.

• Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Standards

Working with digital assets without attention to safeguards for personal information is a recipe for disaster. You will have to understand and comply with data privacy regulations, such as the GDPR in Europe, the California Privacy Rights Act and the California Consumer Privacy Act. The laws call for obtaining consent for data use and implementing robust data protection measures. In addition, businesses adopting digital assets should also meet minimum cybersecurity practice standards.

• Laws for Regulating Instruments and Transactions

Many digital asset regulations create difficulties in finding out whether digital assets are securities or commodities or payment tokens. You must know that digital asset securities come under strict regulatory scrutiny with the need for registration and adherence to disclosures, ongoing compliance and exemptions. As commodities, digital assets should be subject to active commodities regulations in the US and other jurisdictions. Furthermore, digital assets classified as payment tokens, such as stablecoins, will require compliance with money service business and banking laws.

Excited to learn how digital currencies can improve your access to financial services, Enroll now in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Masterclass!

Does Technology Help in Achieving Effective Digital Asset Compliance?   

Technology is gradually becoming the biggest helping hand for businesses in meeting compliance standards for digital assets with more efficiency. Every business leader must know how smart contracts, blockchain-based solutions and AI are transforming compliance for digital assets. 

• Smart Contracts

Smart contracts provide an automated tool for regulatory checks and ensuring that digital asset transactions comply with legal requirements. You will notice that the benefits of transparency and immutability in smart contracts serve as crucial assets for compliance. 

• RegTech Solutions

Blockchain technology also offers an ideal foundation for building regulatory technology solutions for simpler approaches to compliance. The rising use of RegTech solutions, including jurisdictional law analyzers and automated reporting systems, has empowered businesses to adapt to new regulations without manual efforts.

• AI-based Monitoring Tools

The role of AI in enhancing digital asset compliance is also something that business leaders cannot ignore in 2026. Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool for revolutionizing the AML and KYC procedures for compliance. In addition, advanced AI algorithms can also help in real-time detection of unusual transaction patterns and reporting fraudulent transactions.

Final Thoughts 

Compliance in the domain of digital assets is more challenging than you imagine. As a matter of fact, compliance in the digital asset space is not a one-time effort and requires long-term commitment. You should stay updated with emerging regulations and follow the established standard and frameworks to ensure that digital assets operate within legal boundaries. The ability to implement effective compliance will play a crucial role in boosting trust in the use of digital assets. 

The post Digital Asset Compliance: Why It Matters More Than Ever appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

Devonshire recycling centres now accept used coffee pods for anaerobic digestion and recycling as part of a partnership with Podback.

The move comes after waste management company SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, which operates Devon County Council’s Household Waste Recycling centres, partnered with coffee pod recycling service Podback.

Residents in Devonshire can now take used aluminium and plastic coffee, tea and hot chocolate pods to a recycling centre and empty them loose into the marked containers. Bags and other packaging must not be included, and plastic and aluminium pods must be separated.

Commenting on the service, Rob Sanders, Regional Manager at SUEZ, which operates Devon’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, said: “It’s a small change that will make a big difference.”

“Residents are always looking for more ways to recycle everyday items, and this initiative is a practical step toward reducing waste and supporting a more circular local economy. We’re proud to help make recycling even easier for residents in Devon.”

All pods collected are recycled in the UK, where they are shredded to remove the coffee, with the plastic and aluminium recycled to make new products, such as packaging, car components, and building materials.

The coffee grounds are treated through anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy (biogas) and a soil improver.

Podback is a not‑for‑profit recycling service, created and funded by the UK coffee pod brands and national retailers.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for waste services, said: “It’s right that manufacturers are taking responsibility for funding this service and are ensuring that their products are recyclable, and it helps reduce the amount of waste going for disposal.”

“I’d just ask people to store their pods and bring them along when they’re already visiting a recycling centre, rather than making a special trip.”

The post Devonshire recycling centres to accept used coffee pods appeared first on Circular Online.

The Welsh Government have rejected Exchange for Change’s application to become its deposit return scheme administrator.

The Welsh Government have now reopened applications to become the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) for its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), setting a new deadline of 2 June 2026.

According to multiple reports, Exchange for Change, the DMO for the DRSs in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, is believed to be the only organisation to have submitted an application.

Exchange for Change did not respond to a request for comment.

The Senedd has now dissolved ahead of elections on 7 May, which means no DMO can be appointed until the next government takes office.

Last year, Wales withdrew from developing an aligned DRS across the UK. In a written statement, Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies explained that Wales could not proceed with a DRS aligned across the UK due to issues caused by the UK Internal Market Act.

Circular Online learned that the Welsh Government withdrew due to time constraints that prevented the UK Government from considering a request for an exclusion from the UKIM Act.

Scotland’s DRS collapsed in 2023 after the then Conservative Government declined a request for full exclusion from the UKIM Act, which meant it could not include glass in its scheme.

Wales’s DRS is set to include glass as an in-scope material when it launches alongside the other UK nations’ schemes in October 2027.

However, there will be a four-year transition period where no deposit is charged on glass containers to manage interoperability with the other UK schemes. Glass containers will also be exempt from labelling during this period.

At the end of the transition period, the Welsh Government says it also plans to phase in reuse as part of the scheme.

The post Welsh Gov reject Exchange for Change as DRS administrator appeared first on Circular Online.

New TV adverts from WRAP are set to begin across Sky channels as part of its new ‘Rescue Me, Recycle’ campaign.

WRAP secured £200,000 in advertising through Sky Media’s Sky Zero Footprint Fund, which provides £2 million in media value to support organisations driving environmental change.

Produced with creative agency Among Equals, the ‘Rescue Me, Recycle’ campaign aims to improve people’s confidence in what to recycle and how to do so, which is often one of the biggest barriers to recycling.

The adverts personify commonly binned household items, such as toilet roll tubes, perfume bottles and aerosols, by giving them human traits, emotions and voices, and reframing recycling as rescuing the items.

By making everyday objects relatable and memorable, the campaign aims to connect with people who don’t care that much about recycling and inspire them to recycle more.

The advertising campaign supports the long-running Recycle Now social media campaign that culminates in the annual Recycle Week event in September.

As part of this year’s event, taking place between 14 and 20 September, more characters will be launched to highlight other recyclable items that are commonly binned.

David Wilson, Communications Director at WRAP, commented: “We’ve just seen one of the largest reforms to recycling in England with Simpler Recycling, and this advert reminds people everywhere that they can play their part in using our precious resources more sustainably.”

“WRAP is on a mission to embed circular living into every boardroom and every home, and we are incredibly grateful to the Sky Zero Footprint Fund for giving us the opportunity to scale and help give even more recyclable items a second life.”

WRAP won the Fund’s Catalyst Category, which was created to support charities and not-for-profits that deliver meaningful impact but often face barriers to scaling awareness.

The post WRAP launches circular economy and recycling adverts on Sky TV appeared first on Circular Online.

The UK Government has awarded clean technology company Altilium £18.5m to build the ‘UK’s first’ commercial facility for recovering critical battery materials.

The ACT3 plant will have the capacity to process 24,000 EV batteries per year, Altilium said, and produce essential components for next-generation battery manufacturing.

The UK government’s DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund awarded £18.5 million in grant funding, which is delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK.

The funding will support the construction of Altilium’s new ACT3 recycling facility, which it said will be the ‘UK’s first’ commercial refinery for the recovery of critical battery materials from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The plant in Plymouth, where Altilium already operates a hydrometallurgical pilot plant for EV battery recycling, is expected to create 70 new jobs. Construction is set to begin this summer, with commissioning planned for the end of 2027.

Altilium said it wants to establish a domestic circular supply chain for low-carbon battery materials in the UK to reduce reliance on imported raw materials.

Commenting on the announcement, Christian Marston, Altilium COO, said: “This funding marks a pivotal moment for Altilium and for the UK’s battery ecosystem.”

“By scaling our recycling technology and building the UK’s first commercial facility of its kind, we are closing the loop on battery materials and enhancing the growth, productivity and competitiveness of the UK automotive supply chain.”

The site will industrialise Altilium’s proprietary hydrometallurgical recycling technology, which is capable of recovering over 95% of cathode and anode materials from battery waste.

According to an independent lifecycle assessment (LCA), the recycled materials produce up to 74% lower emissions than mined alternatives.

The post Altilium awarded £18.5m to build electric vehicle battery recycling facility appeared first on Circular Online.

The evolution of the digital asset landscape has brought changes no one would have thought of before. The growing emphasis on digital asset compliance has caught the attention of business leaders, decision makers, and aspiring professionals. We are excited to announce that the new Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) certification launched by 101 Blockchains will allow you to explore a new and rewarding career path. The digital asset compliance certification also comes with the benefit of accreditation by a trusted global authority.

We are pleased to introduce the world’s first accredited certification in digital asset compliance. It brings the advantage of pursuing a recognized credential that validates your ability to become a leader in digital asset compliance. The certification course not only helps you learn about regulatory frameworks but also the best practices for risk management. We welcome you to read about the most notable highlights of our new digital asset compliance certification course.    

The Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) Certification Course 

Compliance has become a strategic priority in digital asset projects and is not an afterthought anymore. We believe that compliance not only ensures that you follow the relevant laws but also prepares you for identifying discrepancies. Crypto theft in 2025 led to losses of almost $3 billion, with one incident alone claiming $1.5 billion (Source). Interestingly, illicit crypto addresses served as the major drivers of crypto crime, thereby implying the urgency of compliance. As institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and digital assets grows, the demand for digital asset compliance will also increase.   

The Certified Digital Asset Compliance Professional certification launched by 101 Blockchains is more than a guidebook to digital asset laws and regulations. It is the world’s first accredited certification in digital asset compliance that offers 16 hours of CPD credit. The accreditation offers the assurance of the highest standards of training in digital asset compliance and a credential that proves the efforts you invest in continuous learning.

The CDACE certification course provides a comprehensive introduction to global regulatory frameworks and essential requirements for crypto compliance. You will find lessons on the best practices for identification, assessment, and management of crypto exposure and potential risks. The certification course also sheds light on auditing methodologies, forensic analysis practices, and technical auditing risks. Learners will also acquire skills for incident response and web3 risk management in the certification course.

Step into the future of finance—become a Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) and lead with confidence in crypto compliance, auditing, and governance.

How Will an Accredited Certification in Digital Asset Compliance Help You?

For those of you who are wondering why we are using the word ‘accredited’ so much when talking about our new digital asset compliance certification, it offers the assurance of many crucial benefits. The CPD Certification Service is the accreditation authority for most of our certifications, and we are honored by their support. Our CPD-accredited certifications not only offer recognition for your skills but also a set of other benefits.

• Training at Par with the Highest Standards

We can strongly claim that our new accredited digital asset compliance expert certification program followed strict standards to achieve accreditation. Certification courses should stand up to the expectations of accreditation authorities in terms of quality and delivery.

• Recognition in a Crowd of Applicants

Digital asset compliance roles are growing in number, and the competition for such jobs is increasing at a steady pace. Accredited digital asset compliance certifications offer you an additional edge by presenting you as a valuable asset for employers.   

• No Risk of Losing Reputation

With our new accredited digital asset compliance certification, you will gain relevant skills and knowledge without any misinformation. Therefore, you will become a professional whose words can be trusted when it comes to real-world problems in compliance.

Target Audience for the Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) Certification Course

The best way to find out if our new digital asset compliance certification is right for you is to check whether you are the target audience. Anyone who wants to become digital asset compliance expert is the ideal candidate for this new certification course. The accredited digital asset compliance certification is also a great learning material for the following learner groups.

• Compliance officers and AML leaders in the domain of crypto can learn how to develop stronger crypto compliance frameworks.
• Professionals working in audit, risk management, and governance can specialize in the evaluation of digital asset controls.
• Enterprise leaders can discover the best practices for monitoring crypto strategy, governance, and measuring readiness of incident response systems.
• Stakeholders and blockchain investigators or forensic analysts can learn how to manage crypto exposure, regulatory risk, and incident response.

Build your identity as a certified blockchain expert with 101 Blockchains’ Blockchain Certifications designed to provide enhanced career prospects.

Basic Information about the Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) Certification Course  

You should also know the important details about our new accredited digital asset compliance certification to find out how it can help your career. The learning objectives of the new accredited digital asset compliance expert certification launched on 101 Blockchains will provide a clear impression of what you can gain from the credential.

• Specialization in the best practices to design and audit crypto compliance programs by following global regulatory frameworks.
• Achieving fluency in monitoring on-chain activity, creating defensible reports, and identifying red flags in blockchain transactions.
• Learning about custody controls, regulatory-ready reporting, and DeFi risks for digital asset governance and incident response projects.

Our new digital asset compliance certification offers comprehensive learning materials to specialize in compliance. You will find distinct modules in the certification course that help you achieve the learning outcomes with a clear roadmap. An outline of the modules covered in the digital asset compliance certification program will help you understand its benefits.

• The fundamental concepts of digital assets and blockchain technology
• The basics of the crypto ecosystem and market dynamics
• Foundations of digital asset compliance and global regulatory frameworks
• Best practices for identifying and managing crypto exposure
• Understanding VASPs and entity due diligence
• Advanced source of wealth and forensic investigations
• Audit methodologies and technical auditing risks
• Incident response, reporting, and professional practice

Top Reasons to Choose the Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) Certification Course   

The accredited digital asset compliance certification course by 101 Blockchains is the first structured certification program for compliance professionals. It is a trusted credential that offers multiple advantages to anyone pursuing a career in digital asset compliance. 

• Accredited Certification Program

The biggest benefit of choosing our Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert certification program is the accreditation that comes with it. You will get 16 hours of CPD credit upon completing the certification program, which improves your credibility as a digital asset compliance expert. 

• Qualified Instructors

You will learn from the best instructors with years of experience in digital asset compliance. The opportunity to learn under qualified instructors not only enhances your learning experience but also prevents the risks of misinformation. Learners can gain many benefits from the lessons crafted by our experts from their professional experience.

• Practical Learning 

One of the significant highlights of the new Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert certification launched on 101 Blockchains is hands-on learning. You will find practical examples and hands-on exercises in different modules of the certification course. The practical learning resources in the certification program help you learn new skills and how to apply them in real-world scenarios.

• Responsive Support System

The next prominent advantage of our new accredited certification in digital asset compliance is the highly responsive support system. You can rely on experts for round-the-clock support for questions from the certification course and other technical issues. 

Final Thoughts 

We are thrilled to bring the new Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE) certification with CPD accreditation to all our learners. The certification program is another addition to our list of accredited certifications and represents our commitment to introducing better resources. Learners can use the new digital asset compliance certification to pursue a career in digital asset and crypto compliance. The hands-on exercises, high-quality training, and the support of top instructors stand out as the most prominent highlights of the certification. Learn more about the digital asset compliance certification and its value for your career.

The post Announcement – Certified Digital Asset Compliance Expert (CDACE)™ Certification Launched appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

Exchange for Change has announced a ‘targeted grant scheme’ to support small businesses in funding reverse vending machine installation.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) administrator, Exchange for Change, has announced it has set aside £60m to provide grants over the first three years the scheme is operational.

The proposed grant level is £6,000 per site, paid over three years, structured as three annual payments of £2,000, with the first payment made approximately three months after implementation.

The grant is to support retailers with the costs required to install reverse vending machines (RVM) and is in addition to the Return Handling Fee (RHF), which covers the costs incurred by retailers when managing returned containers.

Exchange for Change says the grants will be targeted at small, independent retailers, and it will develop eligibility criteria, alongside operational performance requirements.

The UK’s DRS is set to launch in October 2027, with the schemes in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland including PET plastic, steel, and aluminium drinks containers.

Wales withdrew from a UK-wide scheme in 2024 due to time constraints that prevented the UK Government from considering a request for an exclusion from the Internal Market Act.

Wales’s DRS will include glass as an in-scope material when it launches alongside the other UK nations’ schemes in October 2027. However, initially, no deposit will be charged on glass containers as a transitional measure to manage interoperability with the other UK schemes.

Exchange for Change is the not-for-profit body established to design and deliver the scheme across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

As part of the DRS, grocery retailers, such as supermarkets, convenience stores and newsagents, are required to host return points open to all consumers.

However, other points of sale like hospitality venues, leisure locations, online retailers and vending machine operators are not obligated to operate return points.

Commenting on the update, Travis Way, managing director at RVM company EcoVend, called the new framework a ‘welcome and pragmatic step’.

“It’s also encouraging to see targeted financial support being introduced,” Way said. “Smaller businesses will need this additional backing to manage upfront costs and operational considerations, especially in the early stages of the scheme.”

“There is a real opportunity for those smaller retailers that do participate. Hosting a return point can help drive increased footfall, create new customer touchpoints, and deliver procurement efficiencies.”

The post DRS administrator announces grant scheme for small businesses appeared first on Circular Online.

Digital asset management in enterprise has always pointed towards centralized systems used to store, organize and retrieve digital files, such as videos, images, graphics, audio files and documents. Till now, digital assets included only the files that are indispensable for branding, marketing and content creation. The definition of enterprise digital assets is changing slowly with the growing use of cryptocurrencies, NFTs and real-world asset tokenization. Is digital asset adoption a good decision for your business?

You should know that the revenue in the digital assets market is likely to reach $121.8 billion in 2026 (Source). In addition, institutional adoption of digital assets is improving with around 59% of institutions looking forward to allocate 5% of their assets under management to cryptocurrencies in 2026 (Source). The confidence in market infrastructure for digital assets and growing maturity of regulatory frameworks are great indicators for enterprises to embrace digital assets. It is important to learn about the different types of digital assets and what enterprises should expect from them in 2026.

Understanding the Definition of Enterprise Digital Assets 

The term ‘digital assets’ in the context of business focused largely on creative assets used for marketing and content creation. However, the answers to “What are digital assets in business?” have shifted towards a new direction since the arrival of cryptocurrencies. The definition of digital assets has extended beyond words, audio files, videos, images and documents of a business. Digital assets are now considered as digital records or value stored or tracked with the help of distributed ledger technology or blockchain.

The digital records can represent anything associated with traditional forms of value, including stocks, patents and real estate. In addition, digital assets on blockchain networks can also represent things that have intangible value, such as creative resources. If an enterprise wants to adopt digital assets, which ones will be the ideal choice for long-term success?

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Unraveling the Notable Variants of Digital Assets for an Organization

The race for adopting digital assets may have led many large enterprises to choose different types of digital assets. You should know about the different categories of digital assets that enterprises can incorporate in their business and operational workflows. Here is a breakdown of the notable subcategories of digital assets that can revolutionize enterprise digital asset management.

1. RWA or Real-World Asset Tokens 

The biggest trend in the digital asset space, especially for enterprises, is the growing popularity of RWA or real-world asset tokens. RWA tokens help in representing the ownership of tangible and intangible asset, including real estate, commodities and business revenue streams. 

Real-world asset tokenization brings a revolution in enterprise digital asset management by facilitating asset ownership on blockchain. The RWA tokens, backed by physical or tangible assets, can provide exposure to the associated assets in digital form.

One of the best things about RWA tokens for enterprises is the ability to serve as a channel for capital. You can think of them as something similar to traditional securities offerings, where you will receive digital tokens instead of stock certificates or notes.

Notable Traits of RWA Tokens

Organizations that wish to adopt digital assets should know how RWA tokens add value to their bottom-line. Business leaders must know the crucial traits of real-world asset tokens that make them the ideal choice in enterprise use cases.

• RWA tokens are subject to regulations established by governing bodies and should be issued and traded on authorized platforms.
• You will find features expected in traditional securities, such as dividends and voting rights, in RWA tokens.
• Real-world asset tokens are practically the digital versions of traditional and alternative investments.

Which Assets Can Be Converted to RWA Tokens?

If your business has decided to embrace RWA tokens, then it is important to identify the right assets to convert to RWA tokens. Enterprises can convert different types of real-world assets into RWA tokens, including,

• Real estate
• Bonds
• Stocks
• Private equity or debt
• Employee stock options
• Pre-IPO companies 
• Creative assets of the brand

2. Central Bank Digital Currency and Stablecoins

The next big segment among digital assets suitable for enterprises points at central bank digital currencies or CBDCs and stablecoins. Both these assets are top choices for digital asset investment by enterprises, primarily for their stability. CBDCs and stablecoins use blockchain-based tokens to represent digital forms of currency, usually pegged against a reserve asset.

• Central Bank Digital Currencies

Most of the definitions of central bank digital currencies or CBDCs describe them as on-chain tokens that represent a digital form of a fiat currency. The big difference between CBDCs and cryptocurrencies is that a CBDC is always centralized. The central monetary authority of a country issues the CBDC and takes responsibility for its regulation. 

• Stablecoins 

Stablecoins are a variant of cryptocurrencies whose value has been pegged against some external asset, such as the US dollar or gold prices. The use of a collateralization or pegging mechanism helps in achieving price stability of stablecoins. In addition, some stablecoins also leverage algorithmic mechanisms that involve purchasing and selling the reference asset and its derivatives.

• Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies introduced a massive change in general perspective on enterprise digital assets and their utility. The diverse use cases of cryptocurrencies showed that organizations can have more than audios, images, videos and other creative assets in their collection of digital assets. Cryptocurrency is a medium of storing, creating and exchange value digitally on a blockchain with the help of cryptographic functions.

Key Traits of Cryptocurrencies as Digital Assets for Enterprises

You can determine the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies as ideal digital assets for enterprise use cases only by understanding their traits. The notable traits of cryptocurrencies will help you understand why enterprises have been adopting them.

• Cryptocurrencies don’t have inherent value like gold, real estate or fiat currencies.
• You will find cryptocurrencies solely in the digital form on blockchain networks.
• Cryptocurrencies are not subject to control by centralized entities as all transactions are secured and verified by a network of computers.
• The supply of cryptocurrencies is generally predefined and comes with a limit, with everything managed by code on blockchain.

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How Can Enterprises Use Cryptocurrencies?

The best way to understand how enterprises can use their digital asset crypto strategies will require identifying cryptocurrency use cases. Enterprises can use cryptocurrencies for,

• Payments
• Foreign exchange
• Lending, borrowing and yield farming
• Cross-border payments and remittances
• Investments         

Which Trends Will Boost Digital Asset Adoption in 2026? 

The overview of different digital assets suitable for enterprise adoption reveals how each type of digital asset delivers value. Interestingly, the year 2026 will bring many new opportunities for adoption of digital assets. You should keep an eye on the following trends to track the future of digital assets in 2026.

• Regulatory Clarity Becomes Mature

The most noticeable accelerator for adoption of digital assets will be regulatory clarity. Countries like Singapore and the UAE have been the frontrunners in digital asset regulation in 2026. In addition, the US and Europe are also leading efforts in establishing regulatory guidance for digital assets.

• Stablecoins Grow Bigger

Stablecoins have emerged as prominent enterprise digital assets with the ability to bridge the gap between fiat and decentralized systems. The growing transaction volume of stablecoins signals a rise in use cases, especially in crypto trading. At the same time, it also showcases a promise for institutions to explore payment options with stablecoins.

• Rising Demand for Tokenization

Tokenization of real-world assets gained momentum in 2025 and the same momentum will continue in 2026. Traditional financial institutions have shown their confidence in potential of tokenization to facilitate fractional, tradable and programmable digital representation of various assets. Tokenization is all set to shift various asset classes, including funds, bonds and real estate to blockchain networks and bring new investment opportunities.

Final Thoughts 

The insights on notable variants of digital assets that enterprises can adopt in 2026 showcase their immense potential for business. Real-world asset or RWA tokens bring a completely new definition to digital assets for enterprises with the flexibility to shift almost anything to blockchain. CBDCs and stablecoins provide digital assets with the assurance of stability while cryptocurrencies open new opportunities for cross-border transactions. Learn more about digital assets and how they can add value to your business now.

The post What Are Digital Assets? A Complete Guide for Enterprise appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new method for repeatedly chemically recycling acrylic plastic without reducing quality.

In contrast to conventional mechanical recycling, the new method uses lower temperatures and sustainable solvents without losing material quality, which the researchers say allows the plastic to be recycled many times over with ‘minimal environmental impact’.

Acrylic, often sold under brand names such as Perspex and Plexiglas, is made from the transparent thermoplastic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

The material is used in a wide range of applications, including automotive components, screens and construction materials.

Currently, the researchers can recycle a few grams of real plastic waste at a time, and work is ongoing to improve efficiency and scale the process.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Jon Husband, ISCC Research Fellow, who co-led the research, said: “With current methods for recycling both energy intensive and inefficient, the demand for cleaner, more efficient recycling technologies has never been greater.”

“Plastic recycling can be tough to make economically feasible, due to issues around high energy costs and low-quality product; this work directly addresses both of these issues.”

Mechanical recycling is the most common method for recycling acrylic and can often involve shredding or melting the plastic to reform pellets for new uses.

However, this can lead to discolouration and a gradual decline in quality, meaning the recycled material can no longer be used for glass-like applications, such as screens or spectacles.

The new process developed by the team at Bath uses UV light under oxygen-free conditions to chemically break down consumer-grade PMMA plastic into its original monomer building blocks.

The new approach also works at a lower temperature than the conventional method, which means the energy input required is significantly lower.

The researchers say the new process delivers over 95% conversion of the plastic and yields more than 70% monomer, which can then be purified and repolymerised into ‘as new’ materials.

The work, published in Nature Communications, was led by Dr Jon Husband and Dr Simon Freakley from the University’s Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change (ISCC) and co-authored by the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) Director Professor Matthew Davidson.

The post New method for recycling acrylic plastic in circular system developed appeared first on Circular Online.