As part of EUMEPS’ ongoing efforts to amplify key voices shaping Europe’s transition to a circular economy, Ingrid Morin, Communications Manager at EUMEPS, interviewed Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe. The discussion centred on the roadmap launched in 2023, which sets a clear trajectory for the plastics industry: achieving 65% circular plastics by 2050 and moving towards a net-zero emissions system.
Virginia Janssens emphasised the need for concrete, immediate action. The roadmap includes 2030 intermediate targets and outlines the respective roles of polymer producers, value chain partners, and policymakers. Mechanical and chemical recycling, alongside reuse, are identified as key levers for circularity—each requiring strong enabling frameworks to scale up across Europe.
Beyond technical solutions, the core message was one of strategic collaboration. “Let’s team up—not just as industry, but with policymakers and consumers too,” Janssens stated, underlining the systemic nature of the transition. She also stressed the competitiveness challenges European industry currently faces—from energy costs to permitting burdens—and called for targeted policy support to unlock progress and reinforce Europe’s leadership in circular innovation.
This exchange is part of a broader effort led by EUMEPS to connect EU-level policy debates with the realities on the ground—particularly for sectors like EPS that play a vital role in sustainable construction and packaging. By facilitating these high-level conversations, EUMEPS reinforces its role as a bridge between industry, regulators, and the public.
Watch the full interview with Virginia Janssens to learn more about the vision behind the roadmap, the technologies driving the transition, and how collaboration across the value chain is essential to success.