Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) is calling the European Union to drive the competitiveness and innovation of the EU plastics industry in order to achieve circularity for plastics.
Ahead of the European Parliament elections in June 2024, the association said European institutions will face a ‘decisive moment’ during the 2024-2029 term to deliver on Green Deal’s objectives while ‘implementing and enforcing measures that genuinely transform plastics into a fully circular material’.
PRE identified five priorities to drive Europe’s competitiveness in its new manifesto. These are: accelerating the transition towards circular plastics; combating greenwashing with transparency; competing in a global economy; strengthening investments & sustainable finance; and fostering science-based solutions for future policies.
On the first point, the organisation is calling for a substantial increase of collection rates, introduction of design for recyclability and minimum recycled content targets beyond packaging, and prioritising enforcement of existing targets. In October, PRE said that Europe risks not meeting its legally binding recycling and recycled content targets if urgent measures aren’t taken to alleviate pressure on recyclers.
In a similar vein, PRE said that establishing a level playing field for all recycled plastics, including those imported from non-EU countries, is key to combatting greenwashing. The organisation has called for enforcement mechanisms, like the introduction of an independent third-party certification system, to achieve this goal. It says Europe is using cheap, ‘non-transparent imports’ from non-European countries to meet targets set by the Single Use Plastics Directive.
On the third priority, PRE said high energy costs and market price fluctuations need to be addressed. Broadening Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) schemes to cover a wider set of waste streams and sectors should be prioritised for ensure financial stability for recyclers. Finally, forward-looking policies based on scientific assessments and robust data should be the cornerstone of European action, the association defended.
“Plastics recycling has proved itself as one of the vital components of a circular economy in Europe. To unlock its full potential, necessary incentives, targeting the entire value chain must be set to drive investments towards EU recycling capacities and technological developments”, concluded Ton Emans, PRE’s President.