Eu proposes new regulations to support chemical recycling and strictly control imports of recycled plastics

As the legal cornerstone of this package of measures,The new regulation (draft) and its annexes establish unified standards for plastic waste at the EU level for the first time."End-of-Waste" StandardThe standard clearly stipulates the specific conditions under which plastic waste, after undergoing a recycling process, can be considered as secondary raw material (i.e., "recycled plastic") rather than waste.

Mainly focused onThermoplastic(PE, PET, PP, PS) and their mixtures, covering mechanical recycling and solvent recycling (physical recycling) processes, but excluding chemical processes intended to intentionally alter polymer chains (Note: chemical recycling is specified separately).

Three major categories of key standards：

Input Material RequirementsPlastic waste entering the recycling process must not be hazardous waste, and the content of harmful substances (such as substances restricted by REACH regulations, persistent organic pollutants POPs) must be strictly controlled. Medical waste (except non-hazardous and source-separated waste) and waste absorbent hygiene products are explicitly excluded.

② Process RequirementsThe recycling process must not intentionally alter the polymer chains of the plastic (a slight increase in molecular weight is allowed). Input and output materials must be stored separately to avoid contamination. The processing must ensure that the output material meets all harmful substance limit regulations.

③Product Quality RequirementsThe final product (recycled plastic) must comply with relevant EU product regulations and industry standards. One of the key indicators is...The content of impurities (non-target polymers and non-plastic materials) must be below 1.9%.(Dry weight). In addition, if exported outside the EU, recycled plastics should in principle be a single thermoplastic polymer (except for PE, PP, PET mixtures).

In the official Q&A of the EU, the EU stated that in response to external competition, the European Commission is monitoring plastic imports through multiple mechanisms.

Specialized agency monitoringRelying on the newly establishedImport Supervision Working GroupMonitoring systems for specific industrial chemicals continuously track the dynamics of plastic imports.

Current trade measuresThe EU has implemented measures on related plastic products.Six trade defense measuresSpecifically for PET products, it has been addressed.China imposes anti-dumping duties on imported PET.And forImpose countervailing duties on PET from IndiaIncluding virgin and recycled PET.

Future ActionsThe committee stated that it will assess whether action is needed in 2026.Additional measuresTo ensure a fair competitive environment for the EU plastic value chain.

To ensure precise regulation and prevent "greenwashing," the European Union will take the following measures:

• Revise customs codeClassificationVirgin plastic Recycled plasticProducts, including food contact materials, to enhance market transparency and regulatory effectiveness.

• Strengthen compliance auditsWill particularly strengthen the==Recycled Plastics for Food Contact PackagingEnforcement of regulations involves auditing recycling facilities both within and outside the EU to ensure they comply with EU standards and sustainable practices.

These import regulatory measures will be linked with the export ban under the Waste Shipment Regulation.From November 2026The EU will ban the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries. Strict regulation on the import of recycled materials helps prevent recycled materials produced using non-compliant processes abroad from entering the EU market, thereby enhancing internal circulation while ensuring consistency in environmental standards.

The European Commission has submitted new rules to member states for calculating, verifying, and reporting the recycled content in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) single-use plastic beverage bottles. These rules will cover chemically recycled content for the first time. Once adopted, they will help the EU achieve the ambitious recycled content targets set under the Single-Use Plastics Directive and promote investment in innovative recycling technologies in a technology-neutral manner. This initiative aims to provide legal certainty and confidence to investors regarding the long-term potential of chemical recycling.

The EU supports allEnvironmental benefits outweigh incineration or landfill.The recycling technology. Although mechanical recycling performs better in terms of emissions and energy efficiency, chemical recycling is regarded as a necessary supplement in certain areas. The design of the new rules aims to ensure that its development does not come at the expense of overall environmental goals.