Circular Economy Act aims to unify EU secondary materials market

The proposed Circular Economy Act (CEA) aims to establish a unified EU-wide market for secondary raw materials. However, industry experts note that current ambitions for fibre-based packaging are hindered by significant fragmentation across Member States.

Konstantinos Malandrinos of the FBCA highlights that variations in collection and sorting quality, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees, reporting requirements, and recyclability rules create complexity for companies operating across Europe. This lack of consistency prevents secondary materials from moving reliably between markets.

To realize a genuine single market, the industry calls for greater coherence in how packaging is collected, sorted, and assessed, alongside clearer conditions for the cross-border circulation of secondary fibres. Addressing these practical barriers is considered essential for creating a stable supply and consistent quality of recycled materials.