To accelerate the transition to circularity, the Commission is pursuing a two-step approach. In the first step, as pressure on certain sectors is acute, this package of pilot measures includes a set of concrete short-term actions to support circularity in particular in the plastics sector, while encouraging investment and innovation more broadly. Second, in 2026, the Commission will propose a Circular Economy Act with further horizontal measures that will improve the functioning of the Single Market for secondary raw materials.
The circular economy represents a major opportunity for the plastics sector. Evidence from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre shows that circular solutions can cut the sector's climate-related emissions by 45%, decarbonise energy use, and improve the sector's trade balance by €18 billion per year by 2050.
The sector of plastic recycling faces mounting pressures: fragmented markets for recycled materials, high energy costs, volatile virgin plastic prices, and unfair competition from third countries. These challenges are already taking a toll, with reduced capacity use and financial losses for EU recyclers, which threaten the EU's circularity targets and industrial competitiveness.
Overcoming market fragmentation
The absence of harmonised and predictable EU-wide rules for the free movement of recycled plastics has led to a fragmented market. The measures presented today will contribute to a more integrated market for plastics.
As part of today's package, the Commission is presenting an implementing act to create EU-wide end-of-waste criteria for plastics under the Waste Framework Directive. Setting EU-wide standards on when recycled materials are again considered materials for re-use is a key step to establish a Single Market for recycled plastics, simplify administrative procedures for recyclers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and ensure a stable supply of high-quality recyclates across Europe. Before final adoption, the draft act is published today for public feedback until 26 January 2026.
The Commission is also presenting for vote by Member States an implementing act concerning the recycled content of PET single-use plastic beverage bottles under the Single-Use Plastics Directive. These rules could create new opportunities for plastic chemical recyclers, ensuring that chemically recycled plastics contribute to achieving EU recycling targets subject to certain conditions and in complement to mechanically recycled plastics. A clearer regulatory framework is also expected to improve legal certainty, helping to unlock investment in chemical recycling across Europe.
The Commission also plans to relaunch and strengthen the Circular Plastics Alliance, reinforcing it as a structured and inclusive platform for cooperation across the plastics value chain, where industry stakeholders, Member States and the Commission can jointly identify shared priorities and address key challenges affecting the competitiveness and circularity of the European plastics sector.
Ensuring fair competition
To ensure fair competition between EU-made and imported plastics, the Commission is creating separate customs codes for virgin and recycled plastics. This will support enforcement of EU rules on imported plastics by customs and national market surveillance authorities.
The Commission is also announcing monitoring efforts for EU and global markets for virgin and recycled plastics which will inform potential trade measures to ensure fair competition between EU-produced and imported plastics. The Commission will take stock of these measures during 2026.
