The plastics industry demands a legal framework that supports the circular economy

AMPLASTechnological Plastics Institute and cycloplast We held the sixth time on Thursday, November 17th. Plastic and circular economy discussion day At the conference attended by nearly 130 professionals and a total of 15 speakers from different public administrations, universities, technology centers and companies in the sector;

The event was opened by Marcelo Miranda, president of Cicloplast, and José Antonio Costa, director of AIMPLAS.

José Antonio Costa explained the structure of the conference and how AIMPLAS is working to respond to the challenges facing the plastics industry. Costa reminded me of the importance of owning. commitment and cooperation of all social unitsnot only from industry, but also from public administrations and consumers.

On the one hand, Marcelo Miranda emphasized the complexity of the industry as a result of the current economic situation. inflationary framework and increasingly higher energy and raw material costs. and on the other hand, a increasingly demanding legislation With plastic materials for the purpose of prohibiting, reducing or taxing non-reusable plastic containers, which will take effect on January 1, 2023. a sector that does not stop investing in innovation and sustainability, such as plastics.

The conference started with a session on innovations.Plastics and Circular Economy Legislation in Europe and SpainMaciej Berestecki, European Commission representative for Spain, press and policy officer, Margarita Ruiz Saiz-Aja, deputy director general for the Circular Economy, Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Struggle, EsPlásticos spokesperson and ANAIP general director) and Alicia Martín (EsPlásticos spokesperson and general manager Plastics Europe Ibérica).

The representative of the European Union reminded that they are working on the revision of the directive in order to reach a conclusion. reduce waste volume, increase reuse rates, promote reuse and recycling. To this end, labeling will include harmonization measures, right-to-repair measures to encourage reuse, and biobased, compostable and biodegradable materials that currently represent a small percentage of waste. quickly.

Circular Economy Deputy General Manager, developments in national legislation such as the new Waste Law Reminding that the aim is to prevent waste generation and promote the use of recycled materials, Kim said. Regarding the Royal Decree on Packaging, whose approval is imminent because it should happen before the end of the year, he stressed that it is also a regulation that strengthens prevention and reuse, as it recognizes that plastic is “necessary, but it is.” progresses in its circularity”. For this, he recalled that three sectoral PERTEs (plastics, textiles and renewable energies) with a total budget of 192 million euros are underway, and 100 million euros of this is reserved for the subsidy of projects promoting the reduction of plastic use in the plastics industry. raw materials, eco design and waste management.

EsPlásticos representatives, The need to promote a legal framework that supports the Circular Economy of plastics and does not have a strong impact on industries in the sector and cause them to lose their competitiveness and prevention of investments in the medium and long term to promote a true Circular Economy. In this sense, they reminded that the plastics industry in Spain consists of 3,000 companies with an annual income of more than 31,000 million Euros and providing direct employment to 93,000 people and indirect or incentivized employment to 255,000 people. Both have influenced the fact that the European and national legal framework must be based on data and scientific evidence, and at the same time serve to encourage and facilitate the investment and innovation of companies in the sector, always respecting technological neutrality. PERTE, announced to the plastics industry spokespersons, is a help but insufficient. An adequate infrastructure plan is needed to implement so many measures in the legislation, but it cannot be realized without an accompanying investment plan.

For isplastics, competitiveness and sustainability must go hand in hand and can go hand in hand. The industry has a lasting commitment to eco-design, improvement in the collection and classification of waste, continuing to advance in the recycling of plastics, and zero-waste landfill. Although Spain is one of the countries that recycles the most in Europe, work continues on campaigns for education, prevention and technical solutions to combat waste in nature.

EsPlásticos spokespersons argued that harmonization of legal measures applicable to the entire national and European region should be ensured.

In the second session dedicated to introducing the challenges and opportunities of the plastic packaging industry and the circular economy in the face of the new legislation, Isabel Goyena, General Manager of Cicloplast and Envalora, Óscar Hernández, General Manager of Cicloplast and Envalora, ANARPLA and María Martínez-Herrera, responsible for Food Safety and the Environment, ASEDAŞ. In the session presented TO EVALUATEThe new Bulk System for Expanded Producer Responsibility (SCRAP) for industrial and commercial packaging in the chemical, plastics, rubber and construction industries with more than 200 member companies. ENVALORA provides an opportunity to comply with their legal obligations for companies that bring industrial and commercial packaging to the national market.

Isabel Goyena encouraged new companies to join a solid initiative backed by a seasoned operation with the collaboration of the best professionals and experts to design and develop a collective system that is as efficient and inclusive as possible.

In the third session, the participants talked about the new management systems (RAP) in the plastics industry and how they manage their waste to comply with the legislation. General Manager José María Bermejo TROWEL Explaining how they manage plastic waste in the agricultural sector, legal secretary Sheim Guerrero said, ECOTEXTILEmade a presentation about the management of textile waste and its President, José Guaita. HEURA He has deeply researched Extended Producer Responsibility Systems in different sectors.

Success stories in innovation

The final session, moderated by AIMPLAS Chemical Recycling Group Researcher Pablo Ferrero, will present innovative trends and success stories in the Circular Economy, which is the foundation of the recycling industry today and tomorrow. The following people will attend this session: Hildemar Méndez, Head of Business Development TOMRA Recycle SortingJoaquin Muntané, director SITUATION PACKAGE; Eduardo Gil Aramendia, Spain Sales Director STOROPACK and Head of Marketing Rosa Puig More Novamont Iberia Who will present the success stories in innovation in the Circular Economy?

The event also included a poster session where it was possible to discover new projects on circular economy and sustainability in the plastics industry.

The participants had the opportunity to visit the area where the results of the R&D+ projects were exhibited, and was reserved for the presentation of the demonstrators from the companies TOMRA, PACTUM, NOVAMONT, STOROPAK, ANDERSEN and HEURA that supported the event. Such as sportswear made from end-of-life fishing nets recovered from the sea, or urban furniture using other marine waste and plastic waste in their production.