Plastics recyclers Europe demands immediate action as EU plastics recycling industry collapses

Downward trend in the European plastic recycling market This is alarming. A growing lack of demand for recycled materials produced in Europe, declining investment in domestic plastics recycling and increased imports of recycled materials from outside the EU have been stifling the European plastics recycling industry in recent years. These problems are fueling the current recession in the market. will put many recycling companies out of business by 2023with more closures occurring or planned throughout 2024. This situation will get worse if not resolved urgently.

Earlier this year, the plastics industry warned of signs difficult market conditions, with no immediate prospects for recovery. Ten months later, the main problem remains the alarming increase in imports of polymers from outside the EU, with dubious claims about their processed composition and without effective testing and traceability measures.

Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, said: “This situation undermines progress and investment aimed at improving recycling processes. “Many processors are struggling to survive in a market flooded with uncontrolled imports that do not meet EU requirements.”

To deal with this situation, it is important restrict market access for imports that do not comply with EU environmental requirements, as recommended in the EU Competitiveness Report prepared by Mario Draghi. Creating a level playing field will be key to ensuring a sustainable green transition and protecting the competitiveness of EU industry in the long term. The measures and targets set out in key EU legislation must now be implemented urgently and effectively. However, given the stagnation of industry growth, Achieving these goals is currently impossible, since capacity will need to be at least doubled by 2030.

Plastics processors in Europe calls on European institutions Act now to create a truly unified circular market for plastic waste and recycling. The newly elected EU institutions have the opportunity to make a positive turnaround, but immediate action is needed to address key issues that threaten existing plastics sorting and recycling infrastructure, as well as future investment. Without these measures, the future of plastic recycling in Europe looks uncertain, and we cannot afford to do so for the sake of EU competitiveness and Europe’s sustainable future.