JBCE and JP4EE Feedback on Sustainability Criteria for Plastic Recycling Technologies under PPWR
On 15 September 2026, JBCE and the Japanese 4EE industrial associations (JP4EE) published their position paper in response to the European Commission’s consultation on sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
JBCE and JP4EE support the European Commission’s objective of establishing sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies. Sustainability criteria can strengthen the environmental performance of plastic recycling and support the transition towards a circular economy. At the same time, the framework should remain technology-neutral, science-based and practical, while ensuring continued innovation and sufficient availability of recycled materials needed to achieve the recycled content targets established under the PPWR.
We call for:
• Technology-neutral and science-based assessment: Sustainability criteria should be based on objective, transparent and science-based assessment methodologies. Different recycling technologies make complementary contributions to circularity objectives and should be assessed on the basis of their overall environmental performance and outcomes.
• Balancing environmental objectives with the availability of recycled materials: Sustainability criteria should support environmental objectives while maintaining access to sufficient recycled materials needed to achieve the recycled content targets established under the PPWR. The framework should avoid unintended restrictions that could reduce recycled material availability or disrupt recycling value chains.
• Supporting innovation and practical implementation: The framework should promote innovation and investment through predictable, proportionate and practical requirements. Sustainability criteria should reflect the maturity of recycling technologies and remain consistent with existing regulatory frameworks while avoiding unnecessary compliance burdens.
For more information, please contact info@jbce.org