Even though EU recycling rates for certain plastic streams have increased in recent years, the challenges linked to managing the large volumes of plastic waste produced each year persist and could even intensify in the future in the absence of ambitious circularity policies. In addition to packaging, which accounts for the largest share of plastic waste generation, the automotive and construction sectors are projected to make increasingly important contributions in the future. Addressing the EU plastic waste challenge would therefore require significant improvements in plastic waste collection from a diversity of sectors as well as advanced sorting and recycling systems.

In view of the ongoing regulatory developments in the field of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, this in-person event on 4 July at 10:00 - 12:00 CEST will discuss the potential of using chemical recycling technologies as part of an ecosystem of solutions for increasing circularity of plastics. Some of the questions to be discussed are the following:

• What do existing assessments indicate about future plastic use, waste generation and treatment by different recycling technologies?
• Under what conditions can chemical recycling support addressing the EU plastic waste challenge?
• What policy framework can enable all recycling options while at the same time providing a level playing field between mechanical and chemical recycling technologies?
• What methodological framework is needed for accounting chemical recycling in the calculations of recycled content targets?

This event is organised in the context of the CEPS Chemical Recycling Initiative.

Registration is open till 3 July at 12:00 CEST.