NEWS


European Commission moves forward on chemical recycling


The European Commission (EC) is inching closer to making a decision on which allocation method chemical recycling companies must use for the mass balance approach in calculating recycled plastics output from their facilities. “We have been intensively discuss- ing this internally,” said Julia Roettg- erding, Policy Officer in the DG Environment Circular Economy Unit, in a keynote speech at the Plastics Recycling World Expo in Brussels in September. There have been lengthy discus- sions about mass balance with EU member states, which are continuing, she said. The EC’s attempts to reach a decision have been further delayed as new Commissioners appointed after EU elections in June have set up their departmental teams.


When plastics waste is used with


virgin feedstock in a petrochemical plant, mass balance enables a com- pany to say a proportion of the plant’s output is recycled (more details here). Some aspects of what the EC will


The audience listening to the keynote speech by Julia Roettgerding of the European Commission at the Plastics Recycling World Expo in Brussels


permit have been decided, such as not allowing a company to transfer mass balance credits between sites. Roettgerding said that in its discussions with member states, the EC supports the Fuel Use Excluded method for calculating the amount of recycled products, which provides a freer allocation than the Proportional and Polymers Only options. The EC’s decision on the allocation method is crucial for chemical recycling compa- nies whose investment plans are based on being able to allocate at a


US plastics jobs grow by 1%


The US-based Plastics Industry Association has launched its 2024 Size and Impact report, the latest annual analysis of the country’s plastics industry. Highlights of the report included: sales of almost US$520 billion in 2023; and industry employment up around 1%, ahead of the manufacturing sector average; As measured by gross


output, the plastic products portion of the plastics industry was the eighth


8


largest US industry in 2022 (the latest year for which information is available). “The report shows growth in the industry’s real economic value added – adjusted for inflation – an increase in its share of consumer demand, and a rise in annual payroll,” according to Perc Pineda, chief economist at the association. In addition, the associa- tion has launched the first Plastics Demand Estimate report, to serve as an


FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | October 2024


indicator for the plastics industry supply chain in the US.


The report will be


released to members on a monthly basis. “While demand will continue to vary monthly, the year-over-year change in plastics demand at current prices and real demand, adjusted for inflation, has been more aligned in recent periods compared to 2021 and 2022,” according to Pineda. � www.plasticsindustry.org


higher level of recycled products. The EC is also working on con- nected elements such as chemical traceability. “It must be possible chemically to produce output from the input waste,” said Roettgerding, as it is important to show a link between the waste feedstock and the product allocated as recycled. Certification requirements in the value chain are being developed with a view to limiting the administrative burden, she said. � https://commission.europa.eu


US Plastics Pact update


The US Plastics Pact has released an updated report detailing ongoing action to eliminate “problematic and unneces- sary materials” from the plastics value chain. Activators will take


measures to eliminate additional items on the list, which now includes: foamed PET when it interferes with sortation and density requirements per the APR Design Guide. � https://usplasticspact.org


www.filmandsheet.com


IMAGE: D ELDRIDGE


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