BDE and PlasticsEurope welcome EU Council position on pellet regulation

The BDE particularly welcomes the EU Council's planned exemptions for plants that have already been approved nationally.
The legislative proposal from the European Commission from 2023 is intended to prevent the release of plastic pellets into the environment. The European Parliament had already set out its negotiating position in April 2024. According to the timetable, trilogue negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the Member States are now scheduled to begin in 2025 under the Polish Council Presidency.
To further develop the Commission's original proposal, the Council is proposing more practical rules and an improvement in the equal treatment of companies under competition law. For example, existing environmental management systems already in use in plants and national permits should be used to replace the obligations under the regulation. A provision is also to be introduced requiring non-EU transport companies to appoint a representative in the EU to ensure that these companies also comply with the requirements of the regulation. Both proposals are welcomed by the BDE, the German Federal Association for Waste, Water and Circular Economy. Anja Siegesmund, managing president of the BDE, explains: ‘It is right and important to consistently combat environmental pollution – such as that caused by plastic granulate losses. However, it must be taken into account that plastic granulate is the product of our companies and that our industry therefore has an intrinsic motivation to avoid losses. The granulate is the basis of our business model. Losses are extremely rare and occur almost exclusively as a result of accidents.’
The Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe, PlasticsEurope, also welcomes the Council's position as a decisive step towards strengthening environmental protection and promoting a more sustainable plastics industry in Europe. Alexander Röder, Director Climate & Production at PlasticsEurope AISBL, explains: ‘The Council's proposed amendments represent a pragmatic and effective solution for preventing pellet losses along the supply chain. They take into account the different ways in which plastic pellets are handled in Europe and the need for tailored measures to effectively prevent losses.’ The association also strongly supports the inclusion of binding measures for the transport of pellets by sea.
Sources:
- European Council (17.12.2024)
- BDE press release (27.12.2024)
- Photo: © Christian Lue / Unsplash