The European plastics industry is calling for clear, harmonised and predictable rules on mandatory recycled content, warning that the lack of a coherent framework could slow investments and destabilise the market.

European plastics industry associations warn about the risks created by the uneven implementation of recycled content requirements across the EU. While the European Union’s objectives are ambitious, industry representatives stress that these targets must be aligned with market realities and the actual availability of compliant recycled materials.
Key concerns raised by the industry include:
- differing interpretations of recycled content requirements among EU member states;
- the absence of clear definitions regarding traceability, quality and certification of recycled materials;
- the risk of imposing targets that are not supported by existing recycling capacities.
The industry emphasises that recycled content targets can only work if they are supported by:
- clear and harmonised technical standards;
- mechanisms that stimulate demand for recycled plastics;
- a functional and transparent market for recycled plastic materials.

Without these conditions, there is a real risk of industrial bottlenecks, rising production costs and the relocation of manufacturing activities outside the European Union.