Consultation on Amendments to the Environmental Management Act for a National Circular Plastic Standard

14-05-2024

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is preparing an amendment to the Environmental Management Act. Starting in 2027, processors of polymers will be required to replace a minimum percentage of fossil raw materials with recycled or biobased polymers. Polymers are chemical building blocks used in the processing of semi-finished or finished products, such as plastics, rubber, paint, and adhesives.

The legislation is being introduced gradually, with the requirement applying solely to plastic by 2027. In the long term, this may also extend to polymers used in other applications. Several aspects of the legislative amendment, such as the specific requirements, are still under development.

Goals of the legislative amendment

  • Reduce the use of fossil resources such as oil and natural gas step by step.
  • Achieve a more circular economy by encouraging recycling and the use of bio-based resources.
  • Decrease CO2 emissions by replacing fossil (virgin) resources with recycled and bio-based materials.

Would you like to respond?

You can respond to all aspects of the legislative amendment and its explanation via the link below until May 31, 2024.

The sector has consultations every six weeks about the progress of the legislative proposal. Additionally, there is a broader stakeholder consultation once a quarter with research institutions and representatives from sector and environmental interests.

Given the current market conditions in the plastic sector: To what extent does this legislative proposal contribute to establishing the right frameworks for achieving a climate-neutral and circular economy while considering the economic position of the plastic sector?

You can respond to this consultation via this link: internetconsultatie.nl/nationale_circulaire_plastic_norm/reageren