On 25 February, DG ENV Director for Circular Economy Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea presented the circularity mini package (winter package) before the European Parliament, triggering a substantive debate on chemical recycling, end-of-waste criteria, and PPWR. On chemical recycling, Ciobanu-Dordea defended a technology-neutral approach, arguing that mechanical recycling alone is insufficient for mixed or contaminated waste streams.
He said that chemical recycling is more costly and should remain a last resort, and that only material outputs, not fuel, count towards recycling targets. S&D and the Greens pushed back, calling for a “mechanical recycling first” principle and warning against a copy-paste approach from the SUPD into the forthcoming PPWR Implementing Act. MEP Burkhardt (S&D/Germany) stressed that the PPWR explicitly requires environmental impacts of recycling technologies to be factored into the design of the Implementing Act, and asked directly how the SUPD Implementing Act would influence the upcoming PPWR rules on calculating recycled plastic content, expected by end of year.
The Left opposed chemical recycling on grounds of fossil fuel lock-in and limited recycled output. On end-of-waste criteria, MEP Nordqvist (Greens/Denmark) welcomed EU-wide harmonised standards as essential for a functioning Single Market for secondary materials, but warned that overly broad end- of-waste status could allow plastic waste to escape stricter waste shipment rules. On imports of plastic recyclates, Ciobanu-Dordea announced that the Commission has begun monitoring imports into EU customs territory, will work with customs and market surveillance authorities to strengthen verification, is cooperating with DG SANTE on food contact materials compliance, and is working with DG TAXUD to create a dedicated customs code for recycled polymers.
ECR/ESN highlighted a severe crisis in the plastics recycling sector, calling for market stabilisation through stricter import checks, reduced bureaucracy, and faster approvals. Ciobanu-Dordea defended the relaunch of the Circular Plastics Alliance as a vehicle to mobilise industry demand for recycled plastics beyond existing regulatory requirements.