Environment and sustainability – January 2025
Global and EU rules and regulations
UNEP reports that INC-5 on the Global Plastics Treaty was adjourned with agreement on a ‘Chair’s Text’ (411 kB) for a follow-up session. The 2024 Global Commitment progress report (2.13 MB) by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation shows that the signatories are likely to miss some of the 2025 goals. EU: On 22 January, the PPWR was published in the OJ after formal adoption by the Council. A report (8.42 MB) by JRC outlines a potential structure for the EU waste-sorting labels in the PPWR. Legislation postponing the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by a year has been published after formal adoption by the Council. The Council has adopted its position (607 kB) on a regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets to the environment. A report (9.74 MB) by JRC assesses the potential of various products to be regulated under the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR). JRC has also published technical proposals (3.7 MB) on EU-wide end-of-waste criteria for plastic. The EEA has published a briefing on the status of the circular economy and a briefing highlighting the need for improving recycling quality.
Rules and regulations in the Netherlands - all info is in Dutch unless stated otherwise
The government reports that the House has been informed of minor amendments to SUP regulations, including a fixed surcharge of €0.25 for on-the-go SUPs. On 19 December, the Circular Economy debate took place. Beforehand, MPs received a compilation letter and a report (2.68 MB) by Plastic Soup Surfer and Zwerfinator on the effects of the SUP surcharge. The draft NCPN (in English) obliging companies to incorporate a minimum share of plastic recyclate and bio-based plastics as of 2027 has been sent to the EC. A petition (in English) by Plastics Europe and others calls for a review of the plastic policy. According to Verpact, the studies (10.72 MB) requested by ILT show that the impact of a deposit increase is minimal. The state secretary has answered questions about this. The House has been informed about the draft Circular Materials Plan CMP (successor of LAP3) and the consultation procedure has been opened. RVO (in English) has published the Environment List 2025 with investments for which you can apply for fiscal advantage (MIA/Vamil). The changes (in English) were sent to the EC. KIDV has published the 2025 version of the Recycle checks.
Rules and regulations in other countries
Bulgaria: The EC has sent a reasoned opinion for failing to apply the polluter pays principle. Germany: The government (in German) has adopted the National Circular Economy Strategy (in German, 7.78 MB). Draft legislation on the management of commercial municipal waste including the labelling of collection containers, has been sent to the EC. The NL government (in Dutch) and the DNHK (in Dutch) have published information on the SUP Tax since 1 January 2025. Poland: Draft legislation on DRS fees has been sent to the EC. Spain: The EC has sent a letter of formal notice regarding the mandatory sorting labels. The 2023 results (in Spanish, 797 kB) for SUP bottles published by the government (in Spanish), show that 2023 target has not been met. According to Law 7/2022 (in Spanish), a DRS must now be implemented. Sweden: Pantamera (in Swedish) reports a rise in DRS fees for 2025. UK: Defra has launched EPR scheme PackUK. Defra has also published an update of the estimated EPR fees and a recyclability assessment methodology. The government has published a policy update on simpler recycling in England. RECOUP has updated their Recyclability by Design guidelines for plastic. US: EPA has released the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, including the development of a national EPR strategy. According to FPF, the annual report by the US Plastics Pact shows that all 2025 commitments will be missed. You can download the report after filling in your details.
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