NEWS


PRE warns of deepening industry crisis in Europe


Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) has warned that the European plastics recycling industry is “facing imminent collapse” due to the surge in low-priced imports, a consequent decrease in demand for EU-made recyclates, mounting economic pressures, and excessive red tape. It said these factors are leading a growing number of EU recyclers to close down. PRE said in a statement


that by the end of this year, the European region is expected to have lost almost 1m tonnes of recycling capacity since 2023. Forecasts for 2025 indicate zero net growth after years of rapid expan- sion, signalling a critical decline in momentum in the transition to a circular economy with the Nether- lands, Germany, and the UK most affected. The organisation said that


to revive the industry, policymakers must imple- ment trade and market defence mechanisms, ensure consistent EPR rules, and enforce third-party


certification along with harmonised penalties for non-compliant materials. Ideally, this must be paired with measures that alleviate economic pressures and reduce procedural policies. UK recycler Biffa threw its weight behind the an- nouncement, urging the government in the UK (which is no longer an EU member) to take decisive action to stabilise the domestic recycling sector and stressing the need for a clear and supportive legislative framework. “We [currently] have a PRN/PERN [packaging producer responsibility] system that


incentivises export over domestic processing, distorting market dynamics and investment signals,” said James McLeary, Managing Director of Biffa Polymers. Biffa, which runs three polymer processing facilities handling a total of 165,000 tonnes/yr, proposes an overhaul of the PRN/PERN system along with UK legislation to ensure only properly reprocessed plastics are eligible for export. It also wants to raise the country’s Plastic Packag- ing Tax recycled content threshold. � www.plasticsrecyclers.eu � https://biffa.co.uk


China PC project for Trinseo


Trinseo has signed an agreement to launch a polycarbonate recycling project in the Zhangjia- gang Free Trade Zone in China involving a total investment of approxi- mately $20m, with a planned Phase I produc- tion capacity of 5,000 tonnes/yr.


In a speech Han Wei,


secretary of the Zhangjia- gang Municipal Party Committee, stated that the project features advanced technology and significant market poten- tial, aligning closely with Zhangjiagang’s industrial development strategy. He also expressed optimism about the prospects for future cooperation and to bring more technologies, projects, and resources to Zhangjiagang. The city has leveraged


platforms like the Yangtze River International Chemical Park to focus on key areas like functional new materials and chemicals, attracting foreign companies. � www.trinseo.com


EPBP launches PET circularity tool


The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), an industry initiative dedicated to advancing the circular economy within the PET bottle value chain, has introduced the PET Circularity Test, a tool that simulates multiple recycling loops. “With this new protocol, EPBP


reinforces its commitment to fostering 4


sustainable packaging innovations that embody true circularity,” said Antoon Spiessens, co-chair of EPBP represent- ing UNESDA. EPBP’s Design for Recyclability Test


Protocol already aligns with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Circularity Test Protocol can be seen as the next


PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | September 2025


evolution towards true circularity. EPBP will initially offer both test


protocols to applicants seeking an assessment and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to establish a transition period for the newly devel- oped PET Circularity Protocol and its associated design guidelines. � www.petcore-europe.org


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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