European Commission adopts new PET bottle recycling rules

The European Commission has adopted new rules governing the recycling of single‑use PET beverage bottles. For the first time the rules set a methodology to calculate, verify and report the share of chemically recycled material, complementing existing mechanical recycling methods. The measures are part of the Commission’s December 2025 plastics package and aim to provide transparency, a level playing field and investment security for the plastic‑recycling sector, helping member states meet the recycled‑content targets of the Single‑Use Plastics Directive. In the first phase, only recycled material from the EU and EEA will be counted; from 21 November 2027, material from OECD countries and, where equivalent environmental standards are guaranteed, from non‑OECD countries will also count. The implementing act will be published in the Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later.