Recently, the European Commission has released a plastic-focused policy package to advance the circular economy. This package compiles short-term implementation measures aimed at boosting demand for recycled plastics.

First and foremost, the EU mandates that member states revise the Single-Use Plastics Directive to drive plastic recycling. Pursuant to this directive, member states shall ensure that by 2030, 30% of the materials used in specific beverage bottles sold domestically consist of recycled plastics. The implementing decisions of each member state regarding the accounting, verification and reporting of recycled plastics require enterprises to report the weight of compliant bottles sold and the weight of recycled plastics used in such bottles. At present, only plastics processed by mechanical recycling are recognized as recycled plastics. However, this amendment permits plastics processed by chemical recycling, as required by the chemical industry, to also be classified as recycled plastics. In addition, the amendment introduces a mass balance approach for calculating the quantity of recycled plastics.

Secondly, the European Commission has proposed implementing regulations setting standards for recycled plastics as secondary raw materials. These implementing regulations are formulated in accordance with the Waste Framework Directive and serve as the EU′s universal standards for plastics processed by mechanical recycling.

Furthermore, the European Commission has announced that it will refine relevant regulations in response to the practice of selling unused imported plastic raw materials as recycled plastics. It plans to revise the relevant regulations in the second quarter of 2026, requiring the submission of more stringent compliance documents for imported recycled plastics intended for food containers. Meanwhile, it will also revise tariff codes to distinguish between virgin plastics and recycled plastics.