Chemical recycling, as a complementary tool to mechanical recycling, is a key lever for reaching increased recycling and sustainability. Even though the market demand for recyclates is higher than the supply, the soaring energy and feedstock prices resulting from Russia’s unjustified aggression towards Ukraine, are driving very significant challenges for our industry, supply chain, and all EU economies. Supply bottlenecks will likely continue to be an issue in the coming months.
As an industry, we are also working relentlessly to further reduce emissions and decouple plastics from fossil-based feedstocks. According to the report, in 2021, non-fossil-based plastics production represented 12.4% of the total European plastics production. We will measure this year by year to keep track of our progress towards the EU’s aspirational target of 20% non-fossil carbon in plastic products by 2030 which we endorse.
As the ReShaping Plastics report highlights, we need to step up our actions across all upstream and downstream levers to meet the Circular Plastics Alliance and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive targets and objectives.
Speaking at the K 2022 press conference, the world’s No. 1 trade fair for plastics, Virginia Janssens, Managing Director, Plastics Europe stated: “It is more important than ever that we create a supportive industrial policy framework which encourages the leading role of the European industry in the net zero and circularity transition.”
“If we want to future proof our industry, the acceptance of chemical recycling with mass balance is vital for accelerating the plastics system’s dual transformation”, Virginia Janssens added. “Greater and timely collaboration across the value chain and with policymakers is essential to make this happen. Alone, no private or public partner can offer workable solutions to complex problems in these unprecedented times.”
