The EU Commission has presented a draft implementing act for the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

According to a statement, the BDE Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Kreislaufwirtschaft expressly welcomes the key points of this draft. According to the BDE, the Member States received the draft from the European Commission for validation at the end of December. According to the BDE, in addition to requirements for a mass balance procedure for crediting plastics recovered through chemical recycling, it also contains a definition of ‘recycled plastic’ for the first time. In addition, temporary ‘Made in Europe’ requirements for recycled materials are to be introduced. According to the BDE, the implementing act is of central importance as it specifies which recycled materials can be counted towards the mandatory recycled material quotas for beverage bottles under the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). According to this, only recycled materials produced in the EU from post-consumer waste may be taken into account for this purpose until 21 November 2027. In July 2025, the European Commission presented a draft that still provided for recycled materials from all countries of origin.
 
‘The fact that the Commission is now stipulating, at least for a limited period, that only recycled materials “made in Europe” can be counted towards the recycled material usage quotas is an important and urgently needed immediate aid for European plastics recycling,’ explains Anja Siegesmund, Executive President of the BDE. This urgently needed respite for the recycling industry must now be used to develop a robust and legally secure mechanism for equivalence criteria for recycled materials from third countries – particularly with regard to sustainability criteria and quality standards, according to Siegesmund.
 
In addition, the BDE is calling for binding European guidelines for the procurement of recycled materials and a watertight mirror clause when recycled imports are permitted. Otherwise, a permanent restriction on European recycled materials should be applied. An economic incentive mechanism is also necessary, so that the use of recycled materials ‘Made in Europe’ that exceeds the mandatory minimum quotas is financially rewarded, for example by adjusting contributions to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system.
 
Sources:

• Presse release BDE (14.1.2026)
• Photo: © BDE / Marc Vorwerk