Politics

On 27 March, the European Commission convened the waste shipment expert group with representatives of EU Member States and industry stakeholders. The meeting took place two months before the 21 May 2026 deadline for new waste shipment rules and focused on the introduction of the digital waste shipment system (DIWASS) and transitional arrangements for Annex VII procedures.

The European Commission’s December 2025 Environment Omnibus package is not a complete solution for the recycling industry, but it is an important signal of direction. For companies active in end-of-life tire (ELT) recycling, plastic recycling, pyrolysis, recovered carbon black (rCB), and pyrolysis oil upgrading, the package is best understood as a first-step competitiveness reform: it promises faster procedures, lower administrative burden, and a clearer policy bridge toward the Circular Economy Act expected in 2026.
From an industry perspective, that is good news. But it is not enough.

The European Commission has issued PPWR guidance to support the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The document aims to ensure consistent application of the regulation across Member States and to facilitate compliance for economic operators.

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has acknowledged the Environment Agency’s decision to grant a further 12-month extension of Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 314. The RPS 314 extension metal recycling framework maintains operational continuity for shredding facilities in England while work continues on long-term regulatory and technical solutions.

A competitive “Made in EU” should be based on sustainably sourced biomass, high-quality recycled materials and European technological capabilities. In contrast to regions relying on fossil energy sources, Europe builds on available resources such as managed forests, established recycling systems and industrial expertise. This approach links industrial policy with circular and bio-based value chains and supports the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal.

Polymer Comply Europe has joined the industry initiative Circular Plastics Made in Europe, which promotes a stronger and more resilient European value chain for circular plastics within Europe (EU27+EFTA+UK). The initiative focuses on increasing the recycling of plastics collected in Europe and reintegrating recycled materials into European manufacturing processes.

The European Union’s second emissions trading system (ETS2) will introduce carbon pricing for fuel combustion in road transport, buildings and selected smaller industrial sectors not covered by the existing EU Emissions Trading System (ETS1).

The European Commission has presented a legislative proposal intended to strengthen demand for low-carbon technologies and industrial products manufactured in Europe. The planned Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) is designed to support manufacturing capacity within the European Union, promote investment in clean technologies and facilitate the transition of industry toward lower-emission production processes.

ESWET has commented on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) presented by the European Commission, describing it as an initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s manufacturing base and industrial competitiveness.

The European Commission has presented the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), a legislative proposal intended to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s industrial sector. Environmental organisations acknowledge the objective of supporting a transition toward lower-carbon manufacturing but point to regulatory gaps and a lack of binding provisions to ensure a phase-out of fossil fuels while maintaining environmental safeguards.

The European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) assigns only a limited role to green public procurement and introduces comparatively low quotas for low-carbon construction materials such as steel and concrete. According to the environmental organisation ECOS, the proposal provides insufficient incentives to stimulate demand for low-emission industrial products and lacks clear regulatory timelines for product labelling.