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In a joint position paper, the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and Plastics Europe Deutschland (PED) analyse the calculation of recycled content in plastic products. They focus on chemical recycling and how it can be used to complement mechanical recycling.
In combination with mechanical recycling, chemical recycling is a key factor for the plastics industry in contributing to the fulfilment of the EU's climate and circular economy targets. Furthermore Chemical recycling to reduce emissions, to solve the plastic waste problem, to secure raw materials and to decouple the use of fossil raw materials in the future contribute to this. The necessary rapid scaling of chemical recycling requires an investment-friendly European framework. The proposed assessment basis is seen as Mass balance approach labelled.
„Mass balance processes ensure transparency and efficiency in the utilisation of secondary raw materials and are therefore a basis for more recycling and a more circular economy.“
Alexander Kronimus, Head of the Climate Protection and Circular Economy division at PED
The technologies summarised under the term chemical recycling can also be used to recycle plastics that cannot be mechanically recycled and are still incinerated. Although the energy converted in the process can be utilised, raw materials are lost. Member companies of the associations are ready to help, Billions of euros invested in these processes in Germany and the EU and scaling up production facilities, but it is still waiting for chemical recycling to be fully recognised by law. In order to replace fossil raw materials and achieve climate neutrality targets, the chemical industry and plastics producers are working on recycling technologies and other ways of recycling.
„Anyone who wants to achieve climate protection targets should utilise innovative technologies such as chemical recycling. A first important step would be to recognise the mass balance for recycled content.“
Jörg Rothermel, VCI Head of Energy, Climate Protection and Raw Materials
Mass balances are standardised (ISO 22095) and are already routinely used today - for example in fair trade in coffee and textiles, in the use of renewable raw materials and in the purchase of green electricity.
In their position paper, the two associations ask the German government to advocate a regulatory framework at European level. In doing so, the consideration of a overarching regulatory recognition of mass balances according to the chain-of-custody principle using the credit method in accordance with ISO 22095 within and beyond the scope of the Single-Use Plastics Directive. External auditing can ensure the standard-compliant and transparent application of mass balancing and prevent double counting, for example.
The applicability of the „Fuel Use Exempt“ model for the mass balance allocation of recycled secondary raw materials to target products is also important. Enabling a conditional mass balance geographical transfer of recyclate properties between a company's European sites is another aspect that the associations consider relevant.
Source: Plastics Europe
The complete Position paper can be found here.
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