As part of its Circular Economy Package, the European Commission has proposed challenging targets for the plastics industry. By 2025, 55% of plastic packaging waste must be prepared for re-use and recycling. The industry recognises that a business as usual approach will not meet this target. Fresh approaches and close collaboration across the value chain are required.

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers, has taken two important steps in response to meet these challenges. Firstly, by working with the plastics industry’s trade association, the company participated in the creation and launch of the Polyolefin Circular Economy Platform (PCEP), which was launched in October 2016 by three plastics industry organisations: PlasticsEurope, European Plastic Converters and European Plastic Recyclers.

For the first time, the platform will create a multi-stakeholder group that will seek to identify the barriers and opportunities to increase Europe’s recycling and work towards ensuring the supply of high quality recycled plastics for the European market. The aim is to increase the resource efficiency of plastics, ensure their recovery and prevent any waste leaking into the marine environment. The PCEP will work to a five to ten year time horizon, to deliver effective, science-based solutions.

To support the PCEP’s work, Borealis has become the first prime plastics producer to join the New Plastics Economy initiative. This project is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and brings together a broad group of stakeholders, including companies, cities, philanthropists, policymakers, academics, students, NGOs and citizens.

Over the next three years, the initiative intends to redesign the future of plastics, starting with packaging. It will drive collaboration across the value chain, guide innovation to create effective markets, mobilise “moonshot” innovations, develop robust evidence to inform improvement and engage with stakeholders.