
Aluminium sector acclaims European Parliament’s ambition for recycling
European aluminium industry representatives are among the groups welcoming European Parliament moves to establish a strict framework for recyclability measures in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Metal Packaging Europe (MPE), the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL), European Aluminium, and the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE), are part of the Permanent Materials Alliance, a grouping to promote permanent materials and deliver a fully circular economy in Europe.
The alliance said the proposal from the European Commission, adopted by the parliament on 22 November, will help to create a circular economy and places Europe at the forefront of sustainable practices. Parliament will start talks with national governments on the final form of the law, once it is adopted by the European Council.
In particular, the MPE hailed the introduction of five objectives:
performance grades to assess the recyclability of packaging
a mandatory separate collection target of 90%
extended producer responsibility (EPR) calculations based on the net cost of collection, sorting, and recycling or recovery of the packaging
the link between eco-modulation of fees and recyclability, and a wider rollout of deposit return schemes (DRS) to foster aluminium beverage packaging collection.
Krassimira Kazashka, the newly appointed chief executive of the MPE, commented: “The critical PPWR vote recognises the importance of high-quality recycling and introduces performance grades to further boost the recyclability of packaging. Rigid metal packaging will remain at the heart of a European circular economy.”
APEAL commended the work of MEP Frédérique Ries on the PPWR, and secretary-general Alexis Van Maercke added: “Recyclability performance grades represent a significant stride towards realising a truly circular EU economy. These grades, combining quantitative thresholds and qualitative recyclability criteria, are poised to stimulate innovation.”
However, the group noted the lack of a robust definition of high-quality recycling. Kazashka said: “The European Parliament missed the opportunity to have a more robust definition incentivising materials that can withstand multiple recycling loops without any change to their main material properties, stimulates design for recycling and further boosts effective and efficient recycling.”
A statement from the Permanent Materials Alliance called on the European Council to strengthen the PPWR, “ensuring it enhances the EU circular economy, safeguards the environment, and maximises the retention of resources within the economy”.
Ries is among the MEPs asking for a ban on the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and Bisphenol A in food contact packaging.
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