Environmental NGOs applaud ENVI Committee’s call for ‘transparent and fair’ approach to recycled content in key Single-Use Plastic Directive

Today, the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee approved a resolution regarding the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2683 defining the methodology for accounting for recycled plastic content in single-use plastics. In this resolution, the ENVI committee invites the Commission to adopt a recycled content calculation methodology avoiding creative accounting. The Rethink Plastic alliance supports this decision which introduces safeguards in the definition of recycled content and acknowledges specificity between recycling technologies.   

In particular, the ENVI committee establishes a recycling hierarchy in which chemical recycling effectively only deals with plastic waste that cannot undergo mechanical recycling and ensures consistency with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). 

“With this vote, the ENVI Committee is demanding the Commission step up. This is a call to redefine the pecking order of technologies, ensuring that the recycled plastics hitting our markets are not only safe and transparent but also fair. It’s about sticking to the promises made in the PPWR — no compromises, no shortcuts. 

Lauriane Veillard, Chemical Recycling and Plastic-to-Fuels Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe

“We cannot trust the results of mass balance accounting. The non-proportional allocation of recycled content is misleading and inconsistent with high-quality recycling. The ENVI Committee is rightfully asking the European Commission to revise its methodology to ensure transparent claims and drive true circularity.”

Mathilde Crêpy, Head of Environmental Transparency at Environmental Coalition on Standards

Following today’s adoption by the ENVI Committee, the resolution will be voted on next week during the last plenary session of the European Parliament’s mandate.

Media Contact: 

• For Zero Waste Europe:
  Sean Flynn, Media Outreach Officer |  +32 471 96 55 93 | [email protected] 
• For Rethink Plastic alliance:
  Caroline Will, Communications Coordinator | +32456560705 | [email protected]

About Zero Waste Europe 

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. www.zerowasteeurope.eu 

About Rethink Plastic 

Rethink Plastic is an alliance of leading European NGOs, representing thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State. We are part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, consisting of over 11,000 organisations and individuals worldwide demanding an end to plastic pollution. https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/ 

About Environmental Coalition on Standards

ECOS, Environmental Coalition on Standards, is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws. We ensure the environmental voice is heard when they are developed and drive change by providing expertise to policymakers and industry players, leading to the implementation of strong environmental principles.https://ecostandard.org/