European plastics recyclers have warned against allowing non-EU waste to count towards targets in revised packaging laws.
A key continent-wide trade body said such a move would “negatively impact an already shrinking and threatened market”.
The EU announced plans in late 2022 to revise the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to boost sustainability efforts.
This process is ongoing, with informal meetings known as trilogues taking place between representatives of the Eueopean Parliament, Council and Commission.
Plastic Recyclers Europe said in a statement that its sector had suffered “heavy destabilisation” last year.
“Increasing imports of recycled plastics into the EU are creating an unbalanced market with serious environmental consequences,” it added.
“The PPWR is meant to enhance circularity by harmonising practices across EU member states, addressing EU waste effectively and creating a market for recycled products. However, the policy direction taken in the trilogues is making the initial optimism fade away.
“Allowing non-EU plastic waste to contribute to the targets even for packages produced and filled in the EU, while not having any reliable control and verification mechanisms implemented, would negatively impact an already shrinking and threatened market.”
The statement added: “We urgently call on EU institutions to introduce safeguards for the European plastics industry and level the playing field.”
