Easing Pressure on Plastic Recycling: European Plastics Recycling Association Urges Countries to Implement Enforcement Reforms

Specialized VisionOn October 1, it was reported that the European Plastics Recycling Association (PRE), along with over 20 organizations, sent a joint letter to EU decision-makers calling for systematic reforms to address the challenges of the circular economy for plastics. The organization represents companies in Europe with a recycling capacity of over 13 million tons annually and pointed out that without promoting a combination of regulatory strengthening, targeted investment, and mandatory recycling targets, the EU's plastic circular economy goals will be difficult to achieve.

Image source: mrw

Legislation and Law Enforcement Strengthening:The European Union is urged to address issues such as low-cost import impacts, the decline in demand for European recycled materials, speculative trading of waste, and regulatory barriers within the frameworks of the Circular Economy Act and the Clean Industry Agreement. It is recommended to introduce market intervention measures, simplify the permitting process, and ensure the effective implementation of existing regulations.

Industrial Synergy and Scientific Decision-MakingEmphasize that policy-making needs to closely collaborate with industries, balancing ambition with feasibility, and rely on scientific evidence as the basis for decisions to avoid negative chain reactions. It is also required to integrate plastic recycling into strategic planning across multiple fields such as energy, automotive, and chemical industries.

Mandatory Goals and Cross-Department Integration:Promote the establishment of mandatory recycling content targets in industries such as electronics and electrical appliances, construction, agriculture, automotive, and textiles. For example, the European Parliament has approved a legislative proposal requiring that new plastic parts in cars contain at least...20% recycled materials.

Quality Certification and Traceability System:Advocate for the establishment of a cross-industry third-party certification system to ensure the safe use of recycled plastics in food contact scenarios, and maintain the stability of the industrial chain through transparent import verification and a fair competitive environment.

PRE warning: Europe's recycled plastic production capacity is expected to decrease by 1 million tons within the year, with several large recycling facilities already closed. The association emphasizes that without "strong enforcement, precise investment, transparency in import regulation, and fair competition," the vision of a true circular economy for plastics in Europe will become unattainable.

The joint letter has been delivered to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the commissioners for environment, trade, climate, and other departments, and has also been sent to decision-making bodies such as the European Parliament's Environment Committee.The PRE indicates that this round of reforms is not only about the strategic autonomy of environmental policy but also a critical turning point for European industrial competitiveness and waste management systems. The EU is currently facing the risk of a "collapse in plastic recycling capacity" and urgently needs to reverse the trend through systematic policy tools to ultimately achieve waste reduction goals and alleviate economic pressure on the industry.