Report for Spain

The plastic recycling sector in Europe is experiencing an industrial crisis caused by several increasingly serious factors. There have been numerous plant closures, a decline in local production and intense pressure from cheap imports, along with high energy and labour costs.

Over the last three years, Europe has lost 21% of its PET recycling capacity through closures caused by unfair competition from imports that did not meet the traceability, environmental control and quality requirements imposed on European plants.

Faced with this alarming situation, the EU is attempting to defend itself by redefining “made in Europe” recycled plastic. The new Directive 2019/904 on Single-Use Plastics aims to provide legal certainty for European recycled plastics, protect existing industrial capacity and encourage long-term investment in Europe.