{"id":12846,"date":"2026-06-03T09:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/?page_id=12846"},"modified":"2026-06-04T08:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T08:03:17","slug":"the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/","title":{"rendered":"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Translation of the interview of Alicia Mart\u00edn, MD Plastics Europe Iberica Region for national Spanish daily ABC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Charo Barroso, Madrid May 30 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Europe that is losing competitiveness compared to other parts of the world, especially China, she advocates for an ecological transition that does not lead to industrial relocation. Since taking over as Managing Director of Plastics Europe in the Iberica region in 2020, Alicia Mart\u00edn has become one of the strongest voices in the industry advocating for an ecological transition that combines sustainability and industrial competitiveness. Far from framing the debate in terms of \u201cplastic yes or plastic no,\u201d she insists that no material is intrinsically more sustainable than another, as everything depends on the full life cycle. This idea challenges simplistic approaches to the environmental impact of materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: Plastics have gone from being a symbol of progress to becoming almost a global villain. Has the industry lost the battle?
AM: I wouldn\u2019t say we\u2019ve lost the battle, but sometimes we\u2019ve arrived late to the debate. We share society\u2019s concern about waste and we know that this is where the challenge lies. Today our commitment is clear: to demonstrate with facts that plastics are part of the solution\u2014key to decarbonisation and circularity\u2014if they are properly managed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: The new Plastics Europe report conveys a pessimistic tone\u2026 It even speaks of a \u201cdramatic\u201d slowdown in the circular transition in Europe.
AM: The report reflects a worrying reality: both the production and use of circular plastics have slowed dramatically, while globally they are accelerating. More than pessimism, it is an urgent call to action. If Europe wants to lead in circularity, it must strengthen industrial competitiveness and implement measures that boost investment and demand for circular materials<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB: Is the ecological transition also an industrial race?
AM: Without a doubt. The main driver of circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic. We cannot decarbonise by relocating our industry. This transition is also a race to attract investment and production. If Europe is not competitive, we will depend on imports with lower climate ambition and end up importing what we previously produced, while other regions benefit from the industrial and economic value of our circular economy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: Is European regulation helping or complicating the transition?
AM: European regulation is necessary. But today its complexity and fragmentation are complicating the transition. We need a more agile and predictable framework, and urgent measures that enable us to compete on equal terms with other economies and stimulate demand for circular plastics. Otherwise, we risk having the most advanced regulation in the world\u2026 for an industry that may have to leave the continent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: A few years ago, talking about strategic autonomy seemed reserved for defence or energy. How does it affect the plastics industry?
AM: Strategic autonomy means ensuring that Europe produces the materials essential for its transition, such as circular plastics, mainly produced from waste and biomass. Today we export more plastic waste to be recycled abroad, and, at the same time, we depend on imported circular plastics. This weakens our industrial capacity. Without strengthening recycling and production, we will lose control over supply and economic sovereignty.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: So\u2026 are we not seeing plastic waste as a strategic resource?
AM: Unfortunately, not always. They are strategic resources, key raw materials for our autonomy. Yet around 70% still ends up incinerated or in landfill. We must consolidate a competitive market for circular plastics, recognising that the circular transition gives Europe the opportunity to become a resource-rich continent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: You often emphasise technological neutrality\u2026
AM: Circularity does not have a single solution. We need to develop different technologies in parallel, such as mechanical and chemical recycling. If we do not invest in both, we will limit our ability to process all waste, losing much of its potential as a resource.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


CB: After the report\u2019s findings, how do you imagine the plastics industry in 2050?
AM: I still believe that our roadmap, \u201cThe Plastics Transition,\u201d towards a circular and climate-neutral European ecosystem is achievable if we strengthen the competitiveness of our industry today. Without it, there will be no circular future.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Translation of the interview of Alicia Mart\u00edn, MD Plastics Europe Iberica Region for national Spanish daily ABC By Charo Barroso, Madrid May 30 2026 In a Europe that is losing competitiveness compared to other parts of the world, especially China, she advocates for an ecological transition that does not lead to industrial relocation. Since taking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12846","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Translation of the interview of Alicia Mart\u00edn, MD Plastics Europe Iberica Region for national Spanish daily ABC By Charo Barroso, Madrid May 30 2026 In a Europe that is losing competitiveness compared to other parts of the world, especially China, she advocates for an ecological transition that does not lead to industrial relocation. Since taking […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Plastics Europe ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-04T08:03:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/imagen-4.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Tiempo de lectura\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutos\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/\",\"name\":\"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-03T09:07:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-04T08:03:17+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"es\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/\",\"name\":\"Plastics Europe ES\",\"description\":\"Enabling a sustainable future\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"es\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/","og_locale":"es_ES","og_type":"article","og_title":"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES","og_description":"Translation of the interview of Alicia Mart\u00edn, MD Plastics Europe Iberica Region for national Spanish daily ABC By Charo Barroso, Madrid May 30 2026 In a Europe that is losing competitiveness compared to other parts of the world, especially China, she advocates for an ecological transition that does not lead to industrial relocation. Since taking […]","og_url":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/","og_site_name":"Plastics Europe ES","article_modified_time":"2026-06-04T08:03:17+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/imagen-4.jpg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Tiempo de lectura":"4 minutos"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/","url":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/","name":"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic - Plastics Europe ES","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-06-03T09:07:01+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-04T08:03:17+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"es","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/the-driving-force-behind-circularity-is-no-longer-only-environmental-it-is-now-also-economic-industrial-and-strategic\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The driving force behind circularity is no longer only environmental; it is now also economic, industrial and strategic"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/#website","url":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/","name":"Plastics Europe ES","description":"Enabling a sustainable future","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"es"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12846"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12846\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}