5 Key Policy Drivers

Immediate policy levers to unlock investments and accelerate the industry’s circularity and net-zero emissions journey

Initiate a Clean Transition Dialogue with the plastics industry

Acknowledge essential role of plastics in delivering on the EU Green Deal

Support development of all recycling technologies

Clarity on mass balance by 2024

Simplify and accelerate permit procedures for projects to build installations with low-carbon and circular industrial technologies

Prioritize environmental impact over material-specific policies & ensure a material agnostic, science-and data-based approach to policies framing the transition

Incentivise low carbon and circular business models and create demand through legislation

Urgently define mandatory minimum circular plastic content targets

Make use of sustainably sourced biomass for production of plastics financially attractive

Impose legal requirements to develop recyclable plastics products for all sectors

Endorse trustworthy certification systems and standards for the sustainable sourcing of circular and biomass feedstocks

Leverage public procurement for circular plastics and decarbonisation technologies

Support research and development for CCU

Work to urgently restore the competitiveness of European industry

The roadmap demonstrates an urgent need to create a level playing field and regain European competitiveness, including by:

Funding a European circular plastics economy/transition

Designing regulation to reinvigorate the European plastics industry

Ensure competitive energy prices and make reliable supplies of low carbon energy and hydrogen accessible and affordable

Develop a waste management system fit
for a net-zero circular economy

Transitioning to a net-zero circular economy requires a waste management system which facilitates and favours the reuse of plastics and recycling of plastics waste, aiming towards a future without incineration of recyclable plastic waste by incentivising better and harmonised sorting, collection, and recycling processes for all plastics waste. Key elements include:

Phase out landfilling and incineration of recyclable plastic waste

Financing and investments

Make shipping of sorted waste and recycled feedstock easier between EU Member States and align EU Waste Shipment legislation with the Basel Convention

Harmonise definitions and improve statistics for plastic and organic waste management

Enhance the quality and quantity of collected biowaste suitable as feedstock for plastics production

Promote greater and increased collaboration among all actors

The roadmap highlights the urgent need for more intense and more combined efforts of all parts of the European plastics system and of policymakers and regulators. Key asks in achieving this goal of collaboration include: