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Circular Plastics Alliance

Circular Plastics Alliance

Background  

The Circular Plastics Alliance, launched in December 2018, brought together key industry stakeholders from across the plastics value chain and delivered on the pledge of 10 million tonnes of recycled plastics used in new products by 2025.  

The Circularity Package recently stressed the new challenges facing the European plastics recycling industry. This is why we are relaunching and strengthening the Circular Plastics Alliance with a new mission to jointly identify, discuss and address the key challenges facing the sector.  

The relaunch of the CPA took place on 8 April 2026, with a High-Level event. Here, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the European plastics sector through the work of the Alliance. In addition to a continuation of the original CPA, the relaunch signals a shift towards a more strategic and operational response to the challenges facing Europe’s plastics ecosystem. By combining market analysis, enforcement support and customs work, the Circular Plastics Alliance aims to help create the conditions for a more competitive, resilient and circular plastics market in Europe.

Objectives 

  1. Conducting an industry-led analysis of the current EU plastics industry to: (a) identify key challenges, and (b) pinpoint priority areas for potential future trade investigations when conditions permit
  2. Identifying areas where to prioritise market surveillance activities
  3. Developing separate customs codes for recycled polymers  

Governance 

The alliance’s membership continues to consist of member organisations with relevant activities in the plastics ecosystem, including EU countries, regional authorities, companies, associations, academia, and civil society groups. To achieve its objectives, the work of the alliance will be driven by a Steering Committee to establish roles and responsibilities as well as coordinate and monitor the work of the alliance. The Steering Committee will set up working groups to prepare the deliverables of the alliance’s workplan. A general assembly bringing together all members will take place at least once a year. The European Commission will hold the secretariat and convene the meetings as well as chair the Steering Committee.

See the terms of reference

Contact 

For information on the alliance's work and organisation, please contact GROW-ENV-RPLASTICS-PLEDGEatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-ENV-RPLASTICS-PLEDGE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)