17 European associations from the plastics value chain and different sectors have issued their recommendations on the recent draft guidelines to support the implementation of the Single use plastics Directive.

European associations fully support the objective of the SUP Directive to reduce impact of certain plastic products on the environment, as well as the promotion of circular approaches aimed at reducing waste generation. Our sectors have supported the publication of a guidance document that would seek a harmonised implementation of the SUP Directive across the Member States, and to this end, we have constructively engaged with the Commission services in preparation of the Guidelines. We are, however, preoccupied with the latest version of the draft Guidelines that were shared for consideration by EU Member States on 19 January 2021.

This draft raises several significant issues for the European packaging value-chain, notably the lack of consideration for the EU Single Market for packaging products, and a clear widening of the scope of the Guidelines compared to the original legislative text. Rather than provide much-needed clarification, the Guidelines risk, on the contrary, to strongly hinder our companies’ efforts to eliminate plastic waste and transition to a circular economy for plastics. Our associations have the following key recommendations to ensure that the policy objectives of the SUP Directive are attained.

Download: Joint-industry statement on the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) draft Guidelines