Plastic waste: Commission consults on new rules for chemically-recycled content in plastic bottles

The European Commission has initiated a public consultation regarding the regulations for calculating, verifying, and reporting recycled content in single-use plastic (SUP) beverage bottles, including chemically recycled content.

Source: Environment

Enabling Chemical Recycling in the EU

The implementation of these rules will facilitate chemical recycling within the EU and assist businesses in achieving the ambitious recycled content targets established under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

By encouraging investments and promoting new recycling technologies, these regulations will enhance the competitiveness of both the EU chemical industry and manufacturers utilizing plastics in their production. This effort aims to position Europe as a leader in sustainable innovation. Additionally, these measures will positively impact the environment by economically motivating producers to reuse plastic waste instead of resorting to landfills, littering, or incineration.

Part of the EU Chemicals Industry Action Plan

These rules form part of the new Action Plan for the EU Chemicals Industry, which is designed to bolster the sector’s competitiveness and facilitate its transition towards safe, sustainable, and innovative chemical production.

The EU is currently confronting rising volumes of plastic waste, underscoring the urgent need to enhance plastic waste collection, sorting, and recycling processes.

To meet its recycling targets, the EU endorses all recycling technologies that are more environmentally friendly than incineration or landfill disposal. Among these, mechanical recycling is usually favored as it tends to be less polluting and more energy-efficient compared to chemical recycling.

However, when mechanical recycling is impractical or when higher quality standards are required—such as for food packaging—chemical recycling serves as a valuable alternative.

Ensuring Transparency and Fairness

The new regulations will guarantee transparency in determining the amount of chemically recycled content in new single-use plastic bottles for beverages. By establishing a clear calculation methodology, these rules will create a level playing field and provide investment security for the sector in a technology-neutral manner.

The methodology for this calculation is based on the “fuel-use excluded” allocation rule. This means that waste utilized for producing fuels or energy recovery cannot be counted as recycled content, in accordance with the definition of “recycling” in the Waste Framework Directive.

Balancing Transparency and Administrative Ease

The rules are intended to balance transparency with minimal administrative burdens for companies and national authorities. Annual third-party verification will be required for the most complex stages of the value chain, specifically during chemical recycling.

Requirements will be less stringent for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which will need verification every three years. Companies will be responsible for verifying their business partners’ self-declarations, while national authorities will implement risk-based controls.

This marks the first instance in which the EU has established rules for chemically recycled content. The calculation methodology will serve as a framework for future recycled content regulations in other sectors, including packaging, automotive, and textiles. This approach is designed to instill confidence in investors regarding the long-term stability and potential of these technologies.