Jessika Roswall, EU<\/a> environment commissioner, told the Financial Times the industry was in \u201cdeep crisis\u201d, adding: \u201cIt\u2019s important to make some changes now.\u201d<\/p>\n She said 10 plants had closed in the Netherlands alone over the past 18 months. Across the bloc, about 1mn tonnes of recycling capacity had shut in the same period \u2014 the equivalent of France\u2019s annual output.<\/p>\n The EU plans to step up monitoring of imports and introduce a new customs code to distinguish recycled plastic from new material.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to have a level playing field because today there is this sense that not all recycled plastic that is coming into Europe is really recycled: It could be virgin. We lack the information,\u201d Roswall said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an overflow of plastic coming in from third countries,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Imports from China continue despite EU anti-dumping duties<\/a> imposed in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n The commission will also ask the 27 member states to approve a single criterion for when recycled material changes from waste to fresh material. That would make it easier to ship plastic across borders to increase the efficiency of the industry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to have one single market for waste. We need to see waste as a resource not trash \u2014 how do we turn trash to cash?\u201d Roswall said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The move is partly a response to a letter from six member states, including the Netherlands and France, in November.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral European producers which have invested in the sector\u2019s shift towards circularity and plastic recyclers have been forced to reduce production or close factories,\u201d the letter said. It demanded greater incentives to use recycled content and protection from imports.\u00a0<\/p>\n Roswall said: \u201cWe need to see that we get the business case of the recyclers. Today it is sometimes cheaper to buy virgin materials, and that is not sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n Installed plastics recycling capacity in the EU reached 13.2mn tonnes in 2023 but is forecast to fall by 1mn tonnes by 2025, according to the Commission.<\/p>\n Recommended<\/p>\n The plan also seeks to address regulatory barriers that have held back chemical recycling.<\/p>\n Companies were asking whether the technology will be allowed, Roswall said. \u201cYes we will use chemical recycling and that means that \u2018yes, you can invest in this because we see that it is a part of the industry for the future\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time, chemically recycled plastic will be allowed to count towards a target requiring 25 per cent recycled content in PET drinks bottles this year. Officials say the target has been met, but it will rise to 30 per cent from 2030.<\/p>\n Climate Capital Where climate change meets business, markets and politics.\u00a0Explore the FT\u2019s coverage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Jessika](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/https:\/\/d1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net\/production\/737391cb-9fb6-41c8-bcd8-85ffd34a4b78.jpg\")
Jessika Roswall, EU environment commissioner \u00a9 Thierry Monasse\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"No](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/https:\/\/images.ft.com\/v3\/image\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Fb93506.jpeg\")
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