EUMEPS Signs the Recommendations for a Resilient and Circular Plastic Value Chain in Europe

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News

Published: 02 February 2026

Hits: 876

• EPS and Sustainability
• Advocacy
• Sustainability
• Advocating for EPS Packaging
• Advocating for EPS Buildings

• Links:
  • Link title: Read the publication, Link URL: https://eumeps.eu/eumeps-newsroom/publications

EUMEPS has joined more than 30 European associations, national organisations and companies in signing the publication Strategic Recommendations for a Resilient and Circular Plastic Value Chain in Europe. This joint initiative reflects growing concern across the plastics value chain regarding Europe’s declining industrial competitiveness, rising energy costs, and increasing regulatory fragmentation.

The publication puts forward a shared set of policy recommendations aimed at restoring a level playing field, strengthening circularity, and securing long-term investment conditions for plastics manufacturing and recycling in Europe. By endorsing this document, EUMEPS contributes to a coordinated, value-chain-wide position addressed to EU policymakers and national authorities.

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A common response to mounting industrial and regulatory pressure

Recent data underline the scale of the challenge faced by the European plastics sector. Production volumes have declined significantly in recent years, while growth in recycling capacity has slowed, and several facilities have closed across Member States. At the same time, European operators face rising energy prices and increasing competition from imports produced under less stringent environmental and regulatory conditions.

Against this backdrop, the signatories stress that Europe’s circular economy objectives cannot be achieved without a competitive industrial base. The recommendations, therefore, focus on reconnecting circularity, climate objectives and industrial policy, while ensuring that existing EU legislation is implemented and enforced consistently across the Single Market.

For EUMEPS, this approach is particularly relevant for EPS applications, which depend on predictable regulatory frameworks, efficient collection and recycling systems, and fair market conditions to continue contributing to resource efficiency and climate objectives.

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Six strategic recommendations for a competitive and circular plastics market

The publication is structured around six core recommendations, reflecting priorities shared across the plastics value chain:

1. Restore fair competition and promote circular plastics made in Europe
   Ensuring equivalent requirements for imports, strengthening incentives for EU recycling, and reforming public procurement to support high-quality European recyclates.
   
2. Cut energy costs and support circular plastics to compete globally
   Improving access to affordable energy, tax relief and targeted State aid for recycling, converting and compounding activities.
   
   
3. End loopholes in verification and enforcement
   Strengthening market surveillance, customs controls, traceability tools and harmonised verification frameworks to ensure compliance by both EU producers and imports.
   
   
4. Implement and enforce EU law consistently
   Ensuring harmonised application of recycled content targets, clearer legal interpretation, streamlined permitting and reporting procedures, and effective penalties where rules are breached.
   
   
5. Catalyse innovation and private investment
   Supporting breakthrough technologies, scaling collection and sorting infrastructure, and creating regulatory conditions that reduce investment risk while supporting existing capacities.
   
   
6. Enhance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for a fair circular market
   Harmonising EPR rules and definitions across the EU, introducing eco-modulated fees that reward recyclability and recycled content, and ensuring balanced governance structures.
   
   

Together, these recommendations aim to create a stable and coherent framework that enables circular solutions to scale while maintaining Europe’s industrial base.

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EUMEPS’ commitment to a coordinated European approach

By signing this joint publication, EUMEPS reaffirms its commitment to a science-based, economically viable and policy-consistent transition towards a circular plastics economy. The association supports a framework that recognises the role of plastics applications, including EPS, in delivering insulation performance, resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact when managed responsibly.

The full publication is available for download. The number of co-signatories continues to grow, reflecting broad support across the plastics value chain for a coordinated European response to shared industrial and environmental challenges.

The Greatest Leverage Lies in the Building Envelope

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News - Smart Insulation

Published: 16 April 2026

Hits: 63

• Campaigns - Smart Insulation
• Advocating for EPS Buildings

• Links:
  • Link title: Read the interview on SOLID, Link URL: https://solidbau.at/news/der-groesste-hebel-liegt-in-der-gebaeudehuelle/
  • Link title: Learn about the initiative "Priority? Insulation", Link URL: https://www.priorityinsulation.eu/

Our member HIRSCH Servo Group, headquartered in Glanegg, is one of the established providers in the EPS insulation sector and is active in several European markets. CEO Wolfgang Landler has been at the head of the company for one year. In an interview with SOLID, published on April 13, 2026, he assesses the current market situation, discusses the weak development in the thermal renovation sector, and explains why, in his view, the building envelope must be at the centre of any serious efficiency strategy.

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Building permits increased again in 2025. Are you already seeing this reflected in your current demand?

The increase in building permits is having an initial effect; we are seeing more momentum again in certain areas. However, we are still far from a broad market recovery. In particular, developments in new construction remain subdued.

The development has varied significantly by region. Do you also see clear differences between individual federal states?

Within Austria, our focus is clearly on the south. This is also linked to material logistics: EPS consists of around 98 per cent air and can therefore only be transported economically and ecologically over limited distances. Accordingly, our activities are concentrated on regional markets.

There has recently been a noticeable downturn in the renovation market. Do you see signs of consolidation, or does demand remain weak?

The renovation market has recently developed more weakly than expected. This is also reflected in the current renovation rate in Austria. Although it rose to 1.6 per cent of the housing stock in 2024, the increase is almost exclusively due to heating replacement programmes. The rate of thermal renovation, by contrast, has fallen to around 0.9 per cent. At the same time, the renovation market remains the central lever for energy efficiency and security of supply. Against the backdrop of European climate targets, a significant increase will be required by 2040. We therefore expect stronger momentum again in the medium term.

HIRSCH EPS foam insulation production. A look into production at HIRSCH: this is where EPS formwork blocks for pool construction are produced. – © HIRSCH Servo AG

Austria is considered particularly strict in terms of building regulations, including in the area of insulation. How do you assess these standards?

High energy standards are fundamentally sensible and necessary, particularly regarding energy efficiency, security of supply and climate targets. What is crucial, however, is that these requirements remain economically feasible and do not lead to unnecessary complexity. At the same time, fair competitive conditions are needed. The same standards, the same quality and the same reliability must also be consistently ensured across the market.

Initiatives such as “Building outside the norm” aim to reduce construction costs and simplify requirements. Do you see this more as an opportunity or a risk for your business?

Approaches to simplification can be useful if they reduce costs without compromising quality. However, there must be no regression, particularly in the field of energy efficiency.

Construction prices hardly increased in 2025, while wages and energy costs rose significantly. How have you dealt with this cost structure?

The decoupling of construction prices from rising labour and energy costs remains challenging. We are responding with efficiency measures and continuous optimisation of our processes.

Where is HIRSCH Servo currently placing its strategic focus?

A central focus for us is the thermal renovation of the building envelope. It makes little sense to invest in new heating systems if energy continues to be lost through an insufficiently insulated building envelope. At the same time, we already offer circular solutions for EPS insulation materials with a reduced CO₂ footprint or recycled content, and we are actively advancing their positioning in the market. Due to the currently higher sales prices, demand remains limited for now. However, we are convinced that sustainable and resource-efficient systems will prevail in the long term.

Where do you currently see the greatest opportunities and challenges for your company?

Landler: The greatest opportunities clearly lie in the renovation sector and in the increasing importance of energy-efficient buildings. A large share of Europe’s building stock is still considered energy inefficient. The potential is therefore considerable. A well-insulated building envelope can significantly reduce energy demand for heating and cooling, and thus also substantially lower CO₂ emissions. At the same time, there are economic benefits, as investments can pay back over manageable periods through energy savings and contribute to the long-term increase in property value. The main challenges remain ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty, as well as increasing regulation at the EU level. This makes reliable framework conditions and a clear focus on sustainable, long-term, effective measures in the building sector all the more important.

PPWR: the European Commission Publishes a New Guidance for Implementation

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Written by: Ingrid

Category: News - Smart Packaging

Published: 31 March 2026

Hits: 778

• Advocacy
• Advocating for EPS Packaging

• Documents:
  • Document Name: Download the guidance, Document File: PPWR_Guidance_2026.pdf
• Links:
  • Link title: Guidance document on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Link URL: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/guidance-document-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr_en
  • Link title: FAQ on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Link URL: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/faq-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr_en

The European Commission has released a long-awaited Guidance document on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), accompanied by a comprehensive FAQ. These documents provide important clarification for economic operators and Member States as they prepare for the implementation of this significant legislation.

Although the Guidance will be translated into all EU official languages before its formal adoption, it already offers valuable insight into how the Commission interprets key provisions. It is important to note that the document is non-binding; only the Court of Justice of the European Union can deliver legally binding interpretations.

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Recyclability Requirements: Transition Continues

A central clarification relates to recyclability requirements. The Commission confirms that, until Article 6(2)(a) of the PPWR becomes applicable, manufacturers must continue complying with the existing Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) and the harmonised standard EN 13430:2004.

Importantly, no PPWR conformity assessment for recyclability is required at this stage. This obligation will only apply once the delegated acts under Article 6(4) enter into force. This transitional approach provides a degree of regulatory continuity while allowing time for the development of more advanced, resource-efficient and sustainable compliance frameworks.

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Recycled Content: Direct Application of Exemptions

The Guidance also clarifies the application of exemptions under Article 7(5), confirming that these apply directly without requiring approval from the Commission or national authorities.

However, manufacturers are required to justify the use of such exemptions within their technical documentation. This includes providing evidence, such as the absence of authorised recycling technologies. For example, under Article 7(5)(a), documentation must clearly specify the polymer used for each plastic component representing at least 5% of the total packaging weight.

This approach reinforces the importance of transparent, high-performance documentation systems to support a more circular economy and ensure credible implementation of recycled content targets.

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Labelling: Harmonisation Across the EU

Labelling provisions under Article 12 are designed to improve consumer sorting of packaging waste, supporting more efficient waste management systems.

The Guidance clarifies that these requirements primarily target consumer-facing packaging, rather than industrial or commercial packaging. A key confirmation is that Article 12 fully harmonises packaging labelling across the EU. As a result, Member States are not permitted to introduce additional mandatory national labelling requirements.

This harmonisation is expected to reduce fragmentation in the internal market, enabling more efficient and consistent communication to consumers while supporting energy-saving waste sorting practices.

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Reuse of Transport Packaging: Practical Interpretation

Further clarification is provided on reuse requirements, particularly concerning “sales packaging used for transporting products” under Article 29.

The Guidance explains that the eligibility of such packaging for reuse depends on two main factors:

• The nature of the packaged product
• Whether the packaging clearly fulfils a transport function

Several practical examples are included in the document, offering economic operators clearer direction on how to assess reuse scenarios. This contributes to a more consistent and sustainable application of reuse systems across the EU.

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Moving Towards a Climate-Neutral Packaging Framework

The publication of this Guidance represents an important step towards the effective implementation of the PPWR. While non-binding, it provides much-needed clarity that supports industry preparedness and regulatory alignment.

By addressing recyclability, recycled content, labelling, and reuse, the Commission is helping to create a more coherent and resource-efficient packaging framework. These measures are essential for advancing a circular economy and achieving climate-neutral objectives within the European packaging value chain.

As further delegated acts and translations become available, stakeholders will need to continue adapting to ensure compliance with this evolving regulatory landscape.