The Plastic Table presents a coherent package of measures aimed at stimulating market dynamics, reducing additional costs and making investments more attractive. Among its proposals is the allocation of climate fund resources to support a combined capital and operational expenditure (CAPEX-OPEX) subsidy scheme for recycling and production capacity.
“The urgency is high,” says chairman Steven van Eijck. “Due to high energy costs and a lack of investment security, 3 million tonnes of production capacity have been lost in recent years and over ten recycling companies have gone bankrupt.”
Circular levers
A key element of the proposal is the introduction of so-called ‘circular levers’. These would offer producers a financial incentive to use less fossil-based and more recycled plastic. Revenues would be reinvested in a fund supporting circular frontrunners. This approach is to be linked to European digital product passports from 2027 onwards.
In addition, 20 brand manufacturers – including Albert Heijn, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Unilever – have pledged to voluntarily use 115,000 tonnes of circular plastic annually, over and above legal requirements. This is expected to deliver a CO₂ reduction of approximately 265 kilotonnes per year. Government departments and regional authorities are also being called upon to better leverage their purchasing power (over €100 billion per year) for products containing circular plastic, such as office furniture, sewage pipes and workwear.
Taxes undermining the sector
The Plastic Table stresses that the proposed measures can only be effective as a comprehensive package. It also warns of the negative impact of additional levies on the circular chain, such as the planned increase in waste disposal tax. “That would undermine the sector precisely when upscaling is urgently needed,” Van Eijck warns.
The responsibility now lies with the Cabinet and Parliament to make decisive choices. Arnold Stokking, chair of Green Chemistry, New Economy – one of the participants in the Plastic Table – emphasises that the policy package should be adopted in full. “Only then can our circular companies go to the bank. Too many gamechangers have already collapsed due to the lack of consistent government policy to support the necessary transition.”
The full final report (in Dutch) is available on the VNCI website.
Image: studiocho/Shutterstock
