Polymer Comply Europe has announced that it is joining the Circular Plastics Made in Europe campaign. This is an industry initiative aimed at strengthening a resilient European circular plastics value chain in Europe, covering the EU27, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom. The campaign assumes that plastic waste collected in Europe will be recycled and reintroduced into European value chains, rather than being exported outside the region.
The initiative was launched by a number of organisations, including Zero Waste Europe and Plastics Recyclers Europe, with the support of GreenDot Group and the Circular Plastics Europe platform. Its objectives are in line with the broader goals of the European Union to build a competitive, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. A key element is the reinforcement of high-quality recycling infrastructure and the prioritisation of European waste streams as a source of secondary raw materials for the plastics processing industry.
Polymer Comply Europe emphasises that the transition to a circular economy for plastics requires solutions based on practical and implementable regulations. These policies must enable companies to adapt to evolving EU legislation while maintaining a competitive industrial base in Europe. The organisation notes that support for the campaign is consistent with its mission to help companies navigate regulatory frameworks and accelerate the deployment of sustainable material solutions.
Translating circular economy goals into practice
Europe has adopted ambitious circular economy targets, including requirements for recycled content in products and strengthened waste management policies. However, the effectiveness of these goals depends on the existence of systems and markets that can effectively support them. Without a well-functioning recycling infrastructure and stable demand for recyclates, these targets will be difficult to achieve in practice.
The Circular Plastics Made in Europe campaign focuses on implementing these ambitions through several key areas of action:
- strengthening European processing capacity for high-quality recycling,
- prioritising European plastic waste streams as feedstock for recycling,
- supporting achievable and feasible recycled content targets,
- reinforcing industrial resilience and competitiveness in Europe.
The objectives of the campaign are embedded in the wider context of EU policies, such as the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, which aims to stimulate demand for low-carbon technologies and materials produced in Europe. In this context, plastic recyclates represent an important component of the raw material mix that supports decarbonisation and reduces dependence on imported virgin raw materials.
Importance of the initiative for plastics market participants
Polymer Comply Europe explains its involvement by stating that a functioning circular plastics market is essential for regulatory compliance, environmental performance and the long-term stability of the sector. Without a strong European recycling ecosystem, companies may face difficulties in meeting impending recycled content requirements while maintaining supply chain transparency and required quality standards.
The organisation also points out that reintegrating plastic recyclates generated in Europe into European processing helps to limit dependence on external supply chains. At the same time, it supports innovation in the EU plastics sector, including the development of new technologies for sorting, washing, mechanical and chemical recycling, as well as systems for tracking material origin.
Supporting a resilient circular plastics ecosystem
Circular plastics, particularly recyclates, will play a significant role in achieving Europe’s climate and sustainability objectives. However, circularity is not limited to recycling alone. It also includes waste prevention, product reuse and responsible resource management throughout the entire life cycle of materials, from product design and use to end-of-life treatment.
Through its activities in regulatory compliance, product stewardship and sustainability strategy, Polymer Comply Europe supports solutions that aim to make circularity feasible in practice. This involves designing processes and products in such a way that they comply with current and future legal requirements while enabling the effective use of recyclates and other options that reduce environmental impact.
The organisation encourages market participants, policymakers and value chain partners in the plastics industry to join the initiative and cooperate in building a stronger circular economy for plastics in Europe. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for coordination between regulation, investment in recycling infrastructure and the real ability to meet recycled content requirements in products.
Invitation to participate in the campaign
As part of the Circular Plastics Made in Europe campaign, stakeholders from across the plastics value chain are invited to formally support the initiative, including by signing a petition calling for the practical implementation of circular plastics policies in Europe. The petition aims to highlight the need to link legislative targets with the actual potential of the recyclates market in the region.
The campaign website provides more detailed information on the initiative’s objectives, expected impacts on the sector and ways for companies, industry organisations and other interested stakeholders to get involved in developing a circular economy in the plastics sector.
The Circular Plastics Made in Europe campaign is supported, among others, by Plastics Recyclers Europe and Zero Waste Europe. Additional materials and information on the initiative are available on the Circular Plastics Europe website.
