Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001741/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)
The EU Competitiveness Compass emphasises the need for a competitive and circular European economy. However, the plastics sector faces significant challenges: EU plastics production declined by 8.3 % in 2023, while global production grew by 3.4 %. At the same time, circularity remains limited, with plastic incineration increasing by 15 % since 2018 and 23.5 % of plastic waste still landfilled. This hampers the Member States’ ability to meet EU recycling targets.
Chemical recycling could play a vital role by boosting recycling rates, supporting circular value chains, and reducing incineration and landfill use. However, unlocking investment in chemical recycling requires a clear, trusted mass balance methodology for accounting recycled content.
The Commission is preparing an implementing act under the Single-Use Plastics Directive to define this mass balance approach. Given its strategic importance:
- 1.Will the Commission support the creation of a robust business case for chemical recycling, as highlighted in the Draghi report?
- 2.How will the Commission ensure that the mass balance methodology remains technology-neutral, encouraging investments and enabling the repurposing of existing assets, such as refineries, to help lower recycling costs?
Submitted: 30.4.2025