UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

The circular economy is a global megatrend that has rapidly emerged at the core of European economic policy. Both politicians and businesses are working to reduce fossil dependency through recycling, reuse, and renewable alternatives. The circular economy — A pillar of EU economic policy W e take up the topic with European Commission Vice- President Jyrki Katainen to hear his insights on forthcoming EU legislation setting new targets for recycling oil-based plastics. “We are collaborating closely with industry through the Plastics Alliance. We have brought

The EU Plastics Strategy is one of the Commission’s initiatives to promote the circular economy. Katainen argues that the logic of a functional circular economy is based on market economics; it can succeed and create growth only when it yields economic gains all along the value chain. “Through economic incentives and new legislation, we aim to encourage companies to shift their linear business models towards a circular economy. Currently, less than a third of all plastic is collected for recycling, but I believe that the market will change drastically in the near future,” says Katainen. “The Commission’s goal is to quadruple the capacity for plastic recycling by the year 2030, at which point all plastic packaging entering the EUmarket will be recyclable or reusable,” he adds. To date, the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme has distributed over EUR 250 million in funding for research and development in various segments of the Plastics Strategy. A further EUR 100 million will be available up to the end of 2020. Boost to the bioeconomy The forest industry also has a key role to play in the circular economy. “We want to make the bioeconomy an even more integral component of the circular economy.

together representatives from the whole value chain. Their task is to resolve how to increase the recovery, recycling and reuse of plastics in Europe,” explains Katainen. Katainen, who is responsible for employment, growth, investment and competitiveness, notes that plastic is a complex material. Packaging helps reduce food waste, but it’s clear that the current level of plastic consumption is unsustainable from both an environmental and economic perspective. “With the help of a European standard, we want to improve recycling and the quality of recycled plastic, while also ensuring that virgin plastics contain no substances that are harmful to health in applications such as food packaging.”

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