BPF Responds to Circular Economy Package

The European Commission released the revised Circular Economy Package on 2nd December 2015. 

Plastics are essential to the development of a circular economy. In the UK, in so many fields, there is an impressive record of recycling from bottles to window frames and many of our products are reused.

Resource efficiency, the concept which underpins the EU package of proposals, is synonymous with the UK plastics industry and its evolution. It plays to the strengths of plastics material products. The EU proposals certainly raise detail issues which will need serious debate with the regulators before they settle into a final form, such as the integration of targets for re-use and recycling, and the precise point at which recycling is measured. We also fear that the provision on extended producer responsibility could introduce a new cost for manufacturers.

There was a distinct lack of ambition on preventing all recyclables from going to landfill, with a figure of 90% defined by 2030; although we do accept that this is a step in the right direction.

We hope that the strategy for plastics, which is due for completion by 2017, recognises the full benefits of which plastics bring to society and the absolutely essential role plastics will play in innovative manufacture in the 21st century. This is an industry which the EU needs to encourage and not deflate.

We will be looking forward to working with UK Government and the European Union in the developments of the strategy. 

ENDS
 

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Notes for editors
The British Plastics federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.