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.
The following priority areas of work have been identified:
- Development of packaging design guidelines and assessmentprotocols 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.
