In its new report, CEFLEX claims that EU Member States must source an additional 440,000 tonnes of post-consumer recyclate from flexible polyolefins annually to meet the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s recycled content targets.
According to CEFLEX, 2.5 million tonnes of post-consumer recyclate must be derived from flexible plastics to meet the Regulation’s recycled content target by 2030.
By the same logic, an estimated 5.9 million tonnes of post-consumer recyclate must be derived from flexibles to meet the recycling rate targets for all plastic packaging formats in 2035.
Together, these figures require EU Member States to derive 440,000 tonnes of post-consumer recyclate from flexible packaging every year between 2025 and 2035 to meet the mandatory targets.
Furthermore, CEFLEX sets out its vision for larger-scale developments that could prepare Europe for the incoming ‘recycled at scale’ requirements.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s content targets are set to create strong demand for recycled content in packaging, but CEFLEX warns that the wider circular economy for flexible packaging also depends on markets that are not driven by legislation and already used significant volumes of recycled material.
To meet the recycled content targets for 2030, the report argues that coordinated action across the value chain must develop both packaging and non-packaging end markets to use recycled material consistently – not just when market conditions favour it.
CEFLEX’s analysis identifies a broader set of established secondary markets that already use recyclate sourced from flexible packaging, with the potential to absorb more in future. These include construction films, refuse sacks, transport packaging, horticulture products, and more.
These markets are considered important because packaging alone may not be able to absorb all the recycled material needed to support higher recycling rates. When the secondary markets are included, the total potential demand for post-consumer recyclate rises to around 4.3 million tonnes in 2030.
The report goes on to assert that market operators will revert to virgin material if post-consumer recyclate is not available at the right quality, price and consistency. Open-loop applications could provide further outlets for material that can replace virgin resources, but CEFLEX notes that these are often more exposed to normal market conditions.
CEFLEX concludes that effective collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure, alongside high material quality, are ‘critical’ in achieving higher recycling rates for flexible polyolefins.
“Meeting recycled content targets is not only about recycling more,” said Arne Jost, External Affairs director at CEFLEX. “It depends on whether that material can move into real applications, at the right quality and at scale.
“This work helps not only show the material flows as a result of PPWR targets, but also help identify where those markets are, and what they require in practice.”
Earlier this year, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste published a report arguing that separate waste collection, post-consumer recyclate targets, and extended producer responsibility are important steps in improving the recyclability of flexible plastics.
Post-consumer recycled content targets feature alongside design-for-recyclability guidelines, eco-modulated fees, segregated waste collection, granular secondary sorting, and more in the Alliance’s roadmap.
In other news, Arne Jost featured alongside outgoing managing director Graham Houlder in a recent instalment of the Packaging Europe podcast. Our brand director, Tim Sykes, joined them in reflecting on CEFLEX’s journey to build a circular economy in flexibles to date, lessons learned on collaboration, and the agenda priorities for the critical years to 2030.
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