The current geopolitical situation has highlighted the need for Europe to secure its raw materials. A functional European recycling industry, coupled with balanced recyclate markets, is an excellent tool to maintain material reserves and enhance global competitiveness. This approach also conserves valuable natural resources and positively impacts climate change.
However, recycled materials must be safe to use and economically viable. The EU has several new regulations in pipeline to increase recycling rates and promote product safety and usage. Next, I would like to highlight some important points related to the Ecodesign for sustainable product regulation (ESPR) from the perspective of plastics recycling.
ESPR complements other regulations
Ecodesign in plastics packaging is closely connected to packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR). By 2030 all plastics packaging should be recyclable at scale. Interestingly, while the EU legislation demands over 50% plastics packaging recycling rates by 2025, full recyclability is expected just five years later.
It’s important to note that the ESPR complements other regulations. The general principle is that ESPR will only lead on regulating products when their environmental sustainability dimensions are not fully addressed by other instruments. Therefore, upcoming PPWR will cover most topics related to sustainable design and recyclability of packaging.
The scope of ESPR is broad, covering many consumer products from vehicles to electronics sold in European Union. Numerous items are listed to improve product sustainability, including the use of recycled content and sustainable materials. this should hopefully increase the market for recycled raw plastics. Notably, the weight of packaging and package – product ratio is one of the criteria in the list. Plastics packaging is lightweight and protects the content best way.
The “right to repair” is expected to increase demand for spare parts and maintenance services. This requires products to be disassembled and reassembled non-destructively, with a supply of spare parts available.
Finally, total carbon and material footprint of products is under evaluation. The total environmental impact should be assessed, including logistics CO2 loads from air cargo. Choosing environmentally friendly raw materials from reliable sources is equally important.
Shifting responsibility to brand owners
Brand owners will bear the most responsibility when putting these good intentions into practise. For too long, the cheapest price has been the dominant feature for many product categories. Europeans are now moving towards ownership culture where recyclability, durability, repairability and reduced consumption are highly valued.
Plastics at Fortum Recycling & Waste
Fortum Recycling & Waste recycles consumer plastic packaging mechanically in its plastics refinery plant in Riihimäki, Finland and produces Fortum Circo® plastic recyclate, which is a sustainable choice for raw material in the plastics industry. In addition, we have been piloting carbon capture and utilization (CCU) at the waste incineration plant in Riihimäki, and succeeded in producing biodegradable plastic from CO2 emissions.
