Closing plastic cycles intelligently

Joint mission statement for a circular economy with plastics from BDE, PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. and VCI.

Plastics are more necessary today than ever. Energy and mobility transition, healthcare, and packaging practice – there is no doubt that the demand for plastics will significantly increase worldwide. Therefore, waste prevention as well as the collection, sorting and recycling of plastics must be quantitatively and qualitatively improved at a global scale, making a noticeable contribution to climate protection. With its world- leading chemical, plastics and recycling industry, Germany is particularly predestined to develop and implement comprehensive solution models being part of this contribution. The aim of the German national circular economy strategy must be to avoid waste and to use non-fossil raw materials, including recycled raw materials, as a carbon source and to keep them in a qualitatively high and long-lasting cycle. This includes ambitious proposals for a holistic recycling.

Suitable European and national framework conditions are required for a successful national circular economy. To this end, the German Government should take the recommendations for action and expertise of the German chemical, plastics, and recycling industries into account for the upcoming political decisions at European and national levels.

BDE, Plastics Europe Deutschland and VCI want to advance the circular economy in partnership and are jointly proposing the following points:

• Product design for a circular economy
• Further development of circular economy
• Declaration of and consumer communication on recycled content of materials stemming from chemical recycling
• Promote alternatives to fossil raw materials
• Europe-wide ban on landfilling of plastic waste
• Consistent collection and sorting
• Supportive regulatory framework
• Driving innovations
• Uniform standards and quality requirements
• More research for future-oriented products
• Support for the global agreement against plastic waste in the environment
• Raw material partnerships for the development of a circular economy