PlasticsEurope: 4-point plan for the German parliamentary elections

The proposed measures are intended to strengthen competitiveness and accelerate the transformation to a circular economy.
The plan presented by the association of German plastics manufacturers Plastics Europe comprises four points: ‘Development of a future-oriented industrial policy’, ‘Competitiveness of the circular economy’, ‘Planning security for investments’ and ‘Promotion of innovation and research’. Under point 1, Plastics Europe Germany calls, for example, for EU laws to be implemented one-to-one – without additional national regulations. This should reduce bureaucracy and create a reliable framework for investment. A central point of contact for approvals and the complete digitalisation of associated processes is also considered necessary. In order to achieve the competitiveness of the circular economy, responsibility for the topic should be bundled in one ministry, among other things. In the association's view, binding market incentives for recyclates must also be created through quotas for the use of recyclates and material-neutral licence fees for recyclable packaging (Section 21 of the German Packaging Act, VerpackG). In order to achieve planning security for investments, PED is calling, among other things, for chemical recycling to be legally anchored as a supplement to mechanical recycling, for example by introducing a dual quota for recyclates in accordance with Section 16 of the German Packaging Act (VerpackG). Finally, the Association for the Promotion of Innovation and Research believes that, among other things, circular product design should be supported by standardising and reducing material complexity at the product level, while at the same time maintaining polymer diversity as a guarantee of competitiveness and innovation.
Sources:
- PED press release (15.1.2025)
- Photo: © Rasmus Gundorff Saederup / Unsplash