The Plastics Europe lobby has called on the European Union to maintain the current own resource in the EU budget based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste at €0.80/kg of non-recycled plastic and to earmark the proceeds for funding plastics circularity, in a statement published on Monday 15 September.
The initial aim of the levy is to encourage governments and businesses to reduce non-recycled plastic waste by applying financial pressure.
In July, the European Commission announced its intention to increase the levy to €1 per kilogramme of non-recycled plastic packaging waste, in its proposal to increase own resources for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (see EUROPE 13682/1).
The ‘plastics’ levy enabled the EU to generate more than €7 billion by 2023, according to a report by the EU Court of Auditors published in September 2024 (see EUROPE 13626/20). This own resource was created to finance the EU’s borrowing under the post-Covid-19 EU Recovery Plan.
Rather than increasing the levy, the EU should set up a dedicated fund to support the circular transition of the plastics industry in Europe, according to Plastics Europe. The lobby suggests that this fund should be financed by... the plastic levy. In other words, changing the raison d’être of this levy, which would become financial support for the sector rather than a fiscal pressure tool designed to encourage a reduction in non-recycled plastic waste. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)