In a press release published on December 11, 2018, the European Commission (EC) announced a launch of a Circular Plastics Alliance aiming to bring together “key industry stakeholders covering the full plastics value chain as part of its persisting efforts to reduce plastics littering, increase the share of recycled plastics and stimulate market innovation.” The industry participants will range “from waste collectors to recyclers and primary producers to converters, brand owners and retailers – including in particular packaging, construction and automotive sectors,” the EC informed.
One particular aim of the Alliance is “to improve the economics and quality of plastics recycling in Europe” by “strengthen[ing] the match between supply and demand for recycled plastics which is identified as the main obstacle to a well-functioning EU market of recycled plastics.” This will help to meet the EC’s “objective of achieving at least 10 million tons of recycled plastics into new products on the EU market by 2025,” set in the European Strategy for Plastics (FPF reported).
The “three main operational objectives” of the Alliance will be (1) to foster “short-term, voluntary and coordinated actions and investments by key industry stakeholders,” (2) to report “on the obstacles which may hamper stakeholders’ efforts to fully deliver on their pledges,” and (3) to monitor “progress made towards more plastics recycling and more uptake of recycled plastics in Europe.”
As a next step, the EC “will invite key industry stakeholders to join the Alliance.” Other “interested parties” are invited to contact the EC for further information. The first meeting of the Alliance will be “organized as part of the EU Industry Days” on February 5, 2019, and “a series of operational meetings on key topics” will be held in spring 2019.
Read more
EC (December 11, 2018). “Commission launches Circular Plastics Alliance to foster the market of recycled plastics in Europe.”
Shahrzad Pourriahi (December 12, 2018). “European circular plastics efforts gain new momentum.”
EC (November 20, 2018). “EU Plastics Strategy: Commission welcomes voluntary pledges from industry to boost the market for recycled plastics and encourages further action.”
