RETHINKING PLASTICS: The Austrian Way to reach the ... · − for smarter and more recyclable...

EPDA Conference, Salzburg

June 14th 2019 Susanne Gfatter

RETHINKING PLASTICS: The Austrian Way to reach the Circular Economy Goals

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Organisation of Austrian Economic Chambers

EPDA Conference | 14.06.2019

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Sectors of the Association of the Austrian Chemical Industry


Beside plastics producing and converting industry (which is the largest sector):

Basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, coatings, pesticides, cosmetics, detergents, ...

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• Representation of member companies directly and via WKÖ at all political/ government levels set out in federal law (Economic Chamber Act)

− Plastics manufacture

− Plastics converting

• Lobbying at EU Level via EU Office Brussel

• Advocacy of priority issues, information and advisory

− EDs, Bio-Plastic, Pellets in the Danube

− Circular Economy Package of the European Commission

− Trade Policy

− Construction Products Regulation

− Sustainability of Buildings (Buildings Certification, EPDs, PEF)

− Marine Litter Co-operation with BKV GmbH

− Packaging Regulation

− Bachelor Study for Packaging Technology

− State Prize Packaging

Our Members benefit through…


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• Different Working Groups:

− „Formal“ Plastics Sector Group within the FCIO

− Plastics Sectors Working Group and Steering Group

− ÖAKF - Austrian Working Group window profils; PVC-Issues, Recycling Study

− Plattform Window and Facade Industries: Fenster-/Türen-Treff, Lobbying Energy Saving Renovation, Public Procurement – „Faire Vergabe“, Topics of Special Interest

• National Co-operation:

− BI Plastics Converters, Plastics Europe, VÖK, Plastics Cluster, VinylPlus

• International Co-operation:

− European Association: Plastics Europe, EuPC, Cefic, EPPA, TEPPFA, …

− D-A-CH Working Group of Plastics

− Germany: BKV, GKV, IK, VCI

Networking in...


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• Microplastics in the Danube

• Circular Economy Measures for Plastics− Packaging regulation - Recycling targets

− Strategy on Plastics in the Circular Economy

− Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP)

• Austrian „Plastic-free“ initiative

• Chemicals Regulations− REACH Regulation

− Restrictions / required authorisation for additives

− Registration for polymers

− CLP Regulation− Classification as hazardous, e.g. titanium dioxide

Issues for the Austrian Plastics Industry


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• Pact between Plastics Industry and Federal Minister for Environment− Covers 90% of handled plastics in Austria− Aims at increasing awareness and minimizing loss sources

− plastic manufacturer− plastic converters− transportation− education

• Voluntary Committment− to avoid (disproportionate) regulatory

measures− to improve the image of the sector

• Follow-up and evaluation− Status Report to be drafted by FCIO

• Ongoing Co-operation with Authorities− Wastewater emission regulation

Microplastics in the Danube: Pact "Zero Pellet Loss“


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• Packaging regulation - Recycling targets− By 31.12.2025 at least 50% of plastic packaging should be recycled.− By 31.12.2030 at least 55% of plastic packaging should be recycled.

• Strategy on Plastics in the Circular Economy

• Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP)− Ban

− disposable cutlery, straws, balloon rods

− Significant reduction− Packaging of products for immediate consumption

− Producer responsibility− Cost assumption for collection and recycling

− Labelling− About the correct disposal

− Separate collection of beverage bottles target− 2025: 77%; 2029: 90%

− Recyclate content of beverage bottles− 2025: 25%; 2030: 30%

Circular Economy Measures for Plastics


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• The European Commission calls on stakeholders to come forward with voluntary pledges to boost the uptake of recycled plastics.

− The objective is to ensure that by 2025 ten million tonnes of recycled plastics find their way into new products on the EU market.

• When sending in their pledges, stakeholders are asked to provide the European Commission with data illustrating how their pledge contributes to achieving the quantitative objective

− Pledges will be put under quality check, and assessed against their reliability and ability to meet declared deadlines.

• The pledges received will be made public through a dedicated webpage.

• Commission will present an assessment of the pledges received and their overall contribution to the quantitative objective

− Should the contribution be deemed insufficient, the Commission will start work on possible next steps, including regulatory action.

• EuPC Initiative “MORE” − Monitoring Recyclates for Europe− monitors the volumes of recycled polymers that are used by plastics

converting companies

ANNEX III Plastics StrategyPledging Campaign


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• All participants are asked to make a contribution− Creating the right framework conditions and setting positive incentives

• Recycled materials must be available in sufficient quantities and, above all, in good quality;

− structured, well-organised waste collection and sorting− ensuring good quality of waste going into recycling; − raising consumer awareness; − introducing European quality standards for recycled materials could be

helpful.

• Increased investment in appropriate recycling capacities and technologies needed;

− particularly important for food packaging where specific challenges exist.

• Demand will increase in particular when an economic advantage is expected

− The potential of existing market instruments such as "green public procurement" or the eco-label is not yet fully exploited in Europe.

• Increase incentives for innovation, research and development: − for smarter and more recyclable plastics, more efficient recycling

processes, digital solutions and ways to eliminate pollutants.

• "Recycling at any price" is rejected.

Position of Austrian competent authorities


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• On 3 December 2018, the Austrian government announced several targets for the reduction of plastics, including

− Complete ban of plastic bags, except biodegradable by 2020

− rapid implementation of the SUP with corresponding product bans and reduction targets

− A reduction of plastic packaging of 20% - 25% by 2025 − For packaging, which was primarily developed for one-time packaging

of products

− Yearly market input: 300 000 tons

− National microplastic restriction, if no EU regulation is adopted

• Following the decision in the Council of Ministers and the "Plastics Summit" on 8 January 2019, concrete measures are now to be initiated:

− "Dialogue on plastic packaging" on 8 March and 23 May 2019

− develop adequate solutions for the targeted reduction of plastic packaging.

Austrian „Plastic-free“ initiative


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Austrian Plastics industry: Sustainable plastics cycles with 10-point package


1. Promotion of recycling cycles

2. Discussions with retailers and relevant industry associations to examine DRS for beverage packaging

3. Increase the ratio of reusable plastic products

4. Developing chemical recycling for streams where material recycling is not possible

5. Fact-based policy through mandatory use of life cycle assessments

6. Optimization of legal framework conditions

7. Expansion of Austria's technological leadership

8. Commitment at the global level

9. Raising consumer awareness

10. Networking and cooperation of all stakeholders

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• Circular Design − for return− for reuse− for recycling− from recycling

• Expansion and further development of collection, sorting and recycling systems

• Quality assurance for diverse applications of recycled materials, including high and very high quality applications

− Establishment of EU-wide uniform quality standards for waste streams and recyclates

− Use of digitisation possibilities (e.g. installation of material markers), if economically useful

• Increase acceptance of recyclate− Increase demand through public procurement

• Separate cycles for biodegradable plastics− Mixing different types of plastics makes recycling and composting more

difficult.

1. Promotion of recycling cycles


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• Creation of infrastructure for closed cycles for unmixed quality

• Step-by-step extension to other defined packaging/material flows according to technical possibilities, e.g. coffee cups, detergent bottles

• Equal treatment of disposable and reusable products in order to prevent unwanted evasion

• Also serves to raise awareness: plastic waste is a recyclable material

2. Discussions with retailers and relevant industry associations to examine DRS for beverage packaging


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• Whenever sustainable and hygienically justifiable

• Refill solutions

• Reusable beverage cups

3. Increase the ratio of reusable plastic products


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• Recycling path for plastics, which cannot be recycled ecologically / economically

• Recognition as recycling process according to waste hierarchy

• EU-wide approach for sufficient capacity

4. Developing chemical recycling for streams where material recycling is not possible


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• Every measure must be examined for positive effects on the environment, in particular for climate effects (ecological footprint).

− Protection of the product by packaging must be taken into account in the evaluation.

− The choice of raw material has a decisive impact on the sustainability of packaging

− Consider all recycling processes (mechanical, chemical, thermal).

− Cradle-to-grave evaluation with opportunity costs (e.g. thermal recycling - without plastic other materials have to be heated)

5. Fact-based policy through mandatory use of life cycle assessments


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• Reduction of barriers to the use of recyclate− Examples: Dangerous goods packaging; cosmetics packaging; cable

routes

• EU-wide uniform regulations instead of fragmentation of the internal market and national initiatives (e.g. criteria for recyclability) are a basic requirement for importers and exporters.

• Avoid conflicting policy objectives, instruments and mechanisms

• Establishment of an EU-wide landfill ban

• Implement the Innovation Principle to promote and scale new technologies that facilitate recycling and recovery of plastics.

• Recognition of recyclate as a product

• Free movement of goods with plastic waste for the purpose of optimum recycling but no waste export to countries where optimum recycling is not ensured

6. Optimization of legal framework conditions


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• Strengthening the promotion of research and innovation

• Incentives for the development of new technologies

• Export offensive for recycling and sorting technologies / waste management systems

7. Expansion of Austria's technological leadership


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• Harmonization of activities in UN bodies

• Intensify development aid in waste management

• Know-how transfer

• Export of waste management technologies

• Using Austria as a role model to raise awareness

8. Commitment at the global level


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• Awareness raising campaigns at all levels and for all ages

• Acceptance of recycled packaging (appearance, price, etc.)

• Consumer cooperation is indispensable (e.g. waste separation)

• Facilitation of waste separation

9. Raising consumer awareness


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• Closing alliances of companies, industry associations, legislation, research, administration, municipalities, consumers, media, NGOs

• Coordination of activities to avoid multiple overlaps and duplications and reduce conflicting objectives

10. Networking and cooperation of all stakeholders


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• Through the political will and efforts of all stakeholder, these 10 points can be implemented step by step over the next few years.

• Austria is an international flagship region due to:− its excellent waste management systems− the existence of successful companies along the entire plastics

value chain and − outstanding academic institutions in the field of plastics.

• This role will be further enhanced by the implementation of the measures.

• Austria can contribute its know-how for EU-wide and global further development.

• The resulting environmental benefits are enormous, as considerable resources can be saved and waste can be avoided.

Achievable recycling quotas


Until 2025: > 95 % PET bottles - material recycling

Until 2030: > 95 % PO rigid packaging / hollow bodies - material recycling

Until 2040: > 95 % PO flexible packaging / films - material and chemical recycling

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Dr. Susanne Gfatter

Austrian Economic Chambers

Association of the Austrian Chemicals Industry - FCIO - www.fcio.at

Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, 1045 Vienna

T 0043(0)5 90 900 – 3369

E [email protected]

Website of the Plastics Industry at FCIO:

www.kunststoffe.fcio.at

Contact


http://www.fcio.at/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.kunststoffe.fcio.at/

RETHINKING PLASTICS: The Austrian Way to reach the ... · − for smarter and more recyclable...

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