Cefic urges EU to harmonise chemical recycling waste rules

Brussels – European chemical industry council Cefic has called on the European Commission to introduce EU-wide 'end-of-waste' criteria for chemical recycling, warning that the absence of harmonised rules is creating uncertainty and slowing investment in circular plastics.

In a 25 June position paper, Cefic said the Commission's draft 'Implementing Act' establishing EoW criteria for plastics from mechanical and solvent-based recycling was "a welcome step towards harmonisation."

However, it added, "a dedicated framework for chemical recycling is still missing."

According to the association, the lack of EU-wide criteria means member states continue to apply different interpretations of when waste ceases to be waste, creating "regulatory fragmentation" and barriers to cross-border trade.

"The current approach risks leaving a key recycling route without the regulatory clarity needed to scale," Cefic said.

The association described chemical recycling as a complementary technology to mechanical and solvent-based recycling.

Cefic said scaling up chemical recycling would be "key" to meeting the EU's circularity and recycled-content targets while reducing emissions across value chains.

The industry body called on the Commission to establish "harmonised end-of-waste criteria", adopt a technology-neutral approach and recognise that waste may cease to be waste at different stages of the chemical recycling process.

Without a dedicated framework, Cefic warned, "regulatory fragmentation will continue to slow down innovation, disrupt cross-border value chains and delay investments in chemical recycling capacity in Europe."

"Providing legal certainty and a level playing field across the EU is essential to unlock investment, scale up circular solutions and accelerate industrial transition," it concluded.