PLASTICS PRODUCT

DESIGN AND

RECYCLING

Padraig Nolan

Sector Groups manager

15th July 2013

EESC Public Hearing on a European

Plastic Waste Strategy

About EuPC

� Leading EU-level trade association, based in Brussels,

representing European plastics converters;

� Currently totals 51 European & national plastics converting

industry associations;

� Represents close to 50,000 companies, producing over 45 million

tonnes of plastic products every year;

� More than 1.6 million people are working in EU converting

companies (mainly SMEs) to create a turnover in excess of €300

billion per year.

Plastics converting

What are we doing for product design &

recyclability?

� Innovation platforms

� Voluntary initiatives

� Tests on the effects of materials on recycling

European PET Bottle Platform

� Collection of PET bottles in Europe is still increasing, whereas PET bottles are becoming more and more complex (eg colour, enhanced barrier properties, labels, closures, etc.).

� By creating synergies and by working in partnership with other stakeholders in the field of PET packaging and recycling, we can ensure the effective recycling of PET bottles across Europe.

European Platform - Why ?

� The European PET Bottle Platform is a voluntary initiativeof different partners across the PET value chain.

� The European PET Bottle Platform consists of a number of technical experts in the field of PET production, design and recycling.

� Together they aim to provide an objective evaluation of new technologies and an independent assessment on their impact on the PET recycling processes across Europe.

European Platform - What ?

� The main objective of EPBP is to evaluate technologies / products and to allow new PET bottle innovations, while optimising the economic and environmental consequences for the European PET recycling industry.

� The Platform has established several test procedures in order to assess the recycling profile of new packaging technologies, such as barriers, additives, closures, labels, etc. Products that pass the tests should not experience any problems during recycling.

European Platform - Objectives

� This expanded Platform will promote the recyclability of PET bottles on the market by:

– Establishing European harmonised guidelines for PET bottles recyclability that will be accepted across the entire value chain.

– Encouraging industry to test new PET bottle concepts and/or materials before market launch according to the harmonised guidelines.

– Giving advice and recommendations to the different stakeholders.

– Sharing information and knowledge across the entire value chain.

European Platform - Goals

European Platform - Members

European PET Bottle Platform

Bottle Group

TechnicalGroup

PET WorkingGroup

European Plastics Recyclers

PET Containers Recycling Europe

European Association of

Plastic Recycling and Recovery Organisations

Joint WorkingGroup

European non-alcoholic

beverages association

ANDEuropean

Federation of Bottled Waters

Innovation = the act of

introducing Something

new

PETCORE EuropePET Container Recycling Europe,

is a not-for-profit association formed in 1993. PETCORE's objective is to facilitate the economical

recovery of plastic containers (with emphasis on PET bottles) through collection, reclamation and

development of end uses for post-consumer bottles.

About Petcore Europe

� VinylPlus is the new ten-year Voluntary Commitment of

the European PVC industry which builds upon the

achievements of the Vinyl 2010 programme, taking the

next important steps in tackling the sustainability

challenges for PVC.

� Establishing a long-term framework for the on-going

sustainable development of the PVC value chain.

VinyPlus

VinylPlus Challenges

� Controlled-Loop Management

� - Recycling target with Recovinyl (800,000t by 2020)

� - PVC Waste Management Sector Projects

� - Innovative Recycling

� - Looking at issue of legacy Additives & REACH

� Sustainable Additives

• - Lead and plasticisers replacement

Tests on the effects of degradable

films for recycling

� Ongoing tests that look at the effects of degradable

plastics on the quality of recyclates

� Tests in order to find sustainable waste

management and material solutions that do not

negatively affect recycling

Green Paper on Plastic Waste / 13.03.2013

• Some designs can be improved to

increase recyclability.

• Voluntary initiatives have shown to

work.

• Industry continuing to support innovation

and working with all stakeholders to

address environmental concerns.

Conclusion

For further information please contact:Padraig.nolan@eupc.org European Plastics Converters Aisbl,

Avenue de Cortenbergh 71, Brussels 1000, Belgium.

Tel: +32 2 732 41 24