The European plastics industry is pleased to announce the creation of a value chain collaboration to drive Europe’s Polyolefins-based packaging recycling efforts. Today, three plastics industry organisations have launched a new Polyolefin Circular Economy Platform (PCEP) through which the industry calls on all actors to join them in driving towards this goal and play their part.
The plastics industry recognises that a business as usual approach will not enable the proposed challenging target for 55% plastic packaging "preparing for re-use and recycling” target by 2025, as outlined in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package. In the drive to create a more circular economy, fresh approaches and new thinking are required. Hence, this newly formed platform will be working for a 5-10 year horizon based on effective, science-based solutions.
The platform will create a multi-stakeholder group that will seek to identify the barriers and opportunities to increase Europe’s recycling and work towards ensuring the supply of high quality recycled plastics for the European market. Correspondingly, this will drive economic growth and the creation of new jobs as Europe moves towards a more circular economy.
Innovation is at the heart of this initiative and will require both public and private support to be successful. The following priority areas of work have been identified;
- Development of packaging design guidelines and assessment protocols according to the principles of the Circular Economy.
- Innovation to increase the recyclability of flexible and rigid packaging.
- EU wide quality standards for sorted plastics, harmonisation of tests methods for recycled plastic materials and certification of plastic recycling operations.
- Innovation & development of end-use markets to encourage demand for recycled plastics.
- Stimulating innovation to improve mechanical recycling, conversion technologies and reuse.
- Drive the research and development of new technologies to convert non-mechanically recyclable plastics into feedstock for the production of new materials.
The European plastics industry is an integral part of the manufacturing in Europe, with over 62,000 companies providing more than 1.4 million jobs and annually contributing 26 billion euros to public finances.
| About EuPC |
EuPC is the leading EU-level trade association, based in Brussels, representing 50.000 European plastics converters. Plastics converters are users of plastics raw materials and recycled polymers. EuPC now totals 51 European and national plastics converting industry associations. Press contact: Sarah Goerres - Sarah.Goerres@eupc.org |
| About PlasticsEurope |
PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. The association is networking with European and national plastics associations and has more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Press contact: Nuria Buezas – nuria.buezas@plasticseurope.org |
| About PRE |
PRE is the professional representative body of plastics recyclers in Europe. PRE promotes plastics mechanical recycling and conditions that enable profitable and sustainable business, while offering a service platform to its members. Our members constitute 80% of the European recycling capacity, processing more than 3 million tonnes of collected plastics per year. Press contact: Emilia Tarlowska – Emilia.Tarlowska@eupr.org |