New EU Circular Economy Package fails to support the European plastic recycling industry

The Commission presents the Package as an urgent response to the crisis in the plastics recycling sector, citing fragmented markets, high energy costs, volatile virgin plastic prices and unfair competition from third countries. Europe's plastics recycling industry is experiencing its deepest downturn on record, with a net decrease of around one million tonnes of recycling capacity in Europe by the end of 2025. This happens at the very same time as the ban on EU plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries enters into force.