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Mattias Andersson
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How to navigate the EU's new plastic regulations
If you design, manufacture or sell plastic products, there are several EU regulations that you must comply with in order to promote the use of circular plastics. SUPD, PPWR, WEEE – to name a few.
"There's no need to be afraid of the legislation and rush into solutions," says Mattias Andersson, a senior polymer materials researcher at RISE.
Mattias Andersson describes the EU's regulatory framework for plastics as "quite complex". In 2018, the EU's plastics strategy (a roadmap for how we should use plastics within the EU) was launched as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan. The goal of making all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030 was formulated. Private and public actors along the various plastic value chains began working together towards this goal, including within the Circular Plastics Alliance.
In 2019, the ban on certain single-use plastic items came into force, Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). There have also been a number of updates related to circularity in regulations affecting specific industries, such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV). These do not solely concern plastic, but since plastic is a common component in electronic equipment, packaging and vehicles, they affect actors who design, manufacture and sell plastic products.
"Taking PPWR as an example, this regulation means that all new packaging placed on the European market in 2030 must contain recycled material. At present, the proportion of recycled plastic in new packaging is extremely small, so the industry is facing a major transition. But the rules also create business opportunities for the recycling industry, which has been struggling for a long time. Legislation that forces companies to recycle more and use more recycled material in new products will hopefully create more business opportunities related to everything to do with recycling," says Mattias Andersson.
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All new packaging placed on the European market in 2030 must contain recycled material.
Standards as tools for doing the right thing
To make the rules more specific, the European Commission has ordered 56 standards with guidelines for plastic recycling. By the end of 2025, 27 of these had been published. Sweden has played a leading role in their development, as the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) is responsible for the committee of European plastics experts that has developed the standards. The standards include guidelines for "Design for Recycling", which is about increasing the recycling rate right from the drawing board.
Where do you see the biggest challenges in relation to the requirements for plastic recycling and the use of recycled materials?
"The requirements for a tool box with screwdrivers are not as strict as for things we eat. The legislation is strict in that area, and that's how we want it to be. We don't want to risk food contamination. But, the rules make it more difficult to use recycled materials," says Mattias Andersson.
He gives an example: packaging for minced meat. The black trays with plastic film were replaced with transparent trays when it was realised that the machines at the sorting facilities could not identify black plastic. Today, minced meat is often packaged in transparent plastic bags with a so-called barrier layer that creates a protective atmosphere.
Review your products and pick the low-hanging fruit.
"By switching from trays to bags, manufacturers were able to reduce their plastic consumption, but now they face a new challenge in the form of requirements for recycled materials. At present, there is no food approval for recycled plastic of the type used for minced meat bags – but there is for PET trays, which many manufacturers have moved away from," says Mattias Andersson.
This sounds like a jungle. How do you navigate it?
"I don't think we should be afraid of legislation and rush into solutions, but it's important to start taking action now so we don't fall behind. My advice is to review your products and pick the low-hanging fruit, because there is often some to be found. Perhaps there is already a corresponding recycled raw material that you can mix into your product," says Mattias Andersson, continuing:
"The legislation does not require you to start using 100 per cent recycled materials, but rather a certain percentage. Making this transition gradually also gives your subcontractors a chance to keep up. After all, you are rarely alone in the value chain."
Follow others and find business opportunities
Mattias Andersson advises everyone affected by the EU's new plastic regulations to observe and learn from how others are managing the transition. RISE coordinates a network, the National Centre for Sustainable Plastics, for actors throughout the value chain.
"Here, we bring together companies in the plastics and recycling industry to discuss precisely what we are addressing in this text. Together, we address the issues and try to find the answers."
Four things to do today
- Identify which plastic materials and additives are present in your value chain.
- Design products with recyclability in mind. This could involve working more with mono-materials, avoiding additives and ensuring that products can actually be handled in the recycling system.
- Start testing the integration of mechanically or chemically recycled plastic into products.
- Create systems for collecting and reporting data on material content, climate impact and recyclability. This will be necessary in order to establish digital product passports, a tool within the EU's Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation (ESPR).
What can RISE help with?
Through collaboration with RISE, you gain access to knowledge, test environments and strategic partnerships that drive sustainable innovation throughout the plastics value chain – from raw materials to recycling.
Discover our full range of services for those working in the plastics value chain.
