The circular economy was the main topic at Plastics Recyclers Europe’s (PRE, Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticsrecyclers.eu) annual meeting in Brussels on 18 and 19 June. Speaking at the event, EU Commissioner for Environment & Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella, confirmed that in its newly proposed circular economy package, the Commission would mainly focus on waste management, higher recycling targets, product design, and innovation and research – see Plasteurope.com of 22.06.2015. Vella said: “We estimate that – not just plastic – but waste prevention, eco-design, re-use, recycling and similar measures could bring net savings of EUR 600 bn, or 8% of the annual turnover for businesses in the EU.”

PRE’s president, Ton Emans, added: “As much as 74% of plastics waste in Europe is still not managed in a sustainable way, either by landfilling or incinerating it. The revised circular economy package shall focus on changing this situation. PRE is supporting the Commission in its work to close the loop.”

During the conference, PRE released a study entitled “Increased EU Plastics Recycling Targets Environmental, Economic and Social Assessment”, which argued that plastic recycling could result in 11.5% less greenhouse gas emissions from the EU plastics industry by 2025. The study also revealed that, in order to achieve the plastic packaging recycling target of 60% by 2025, as many as 250 additional sorting facilities and 300 new recycling plants would be needed in Europe. The required investments would create more than 120,000 jobs across the region.

Meanwhile, during PRE’s general assembly, board members and working group chairman were re-elected for a two-year period (2015-2017). Emans was re-elected as PRE president and LDPE chairman. As well as the European Commission, the event included speakers from companies such as Veolia, Erema, Amcor, and organisations including the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and APE Europe.