The European Commission has given new impetus to the transition to a circular economy with the publication, on 23 December 2025, of its Communication on the Circular Economy, which includes a pilot programme to strengthen circularity in the plastics sector. This initiative is key to advancing the EU’s climate and environmental objectives while strengthening its competitiveness, economic resilience and industrial autonomy.
The circular economy has become a strategic pillar for reducing dependence on imported raw materials, improving resource efficiency and strengthening the European industrial base. In this context, the plastics sector is a priority due to its economic weight, its environmental impact and its high potential for reuse and recycling.
Measures to promote plastic circularity
The package of measures presented by the European Commission pursues several fundamental objectives:
• Improve plastic recycling and reduce market fragmentation.
• Strengthen the Single Market for recycled materials, ensuring quality, safety and traceability.
• Supporting European industry in the face of unfair competition.
• Accelerating the transition to a more circular and resilient economic model.
These actions pave the way for the future Circular Economy Act (2026) and reinforce the goal of making the EU a world leader in circularity by 2030.
The European Commission proposes harmonised criteria for the “end-of-waste” status of recycled plastics and common rules for chemical recycling, facilitating their free movement, reducing administrative burdens and encouraging investment. It also strengthens import controls and enforcement to ensure fair competition, particularly for plastics in contact with food. This is a key step towards transforming waste into resources and moving towards a more sustainable and competitive economic model.
