European Commission Sets New Rules for Recycled Plastic in Beverage Bottles

The European Commission has published a draft Implementing Decision updating the rules for calculating, verifying and reporting recycled plastic content in single-use PET beverage bottles, replacing the 2023 framework.

The key change is the expansion of recognised recycling methods. Previously limited to mechanical recycling, the new rules also allow chemical recycling to count towards mandatory recycled content targets under Directive (EU) 2019/904. To accommodate this, the Decision introduces mass balance accounting; a methodology for tracking recycled content through complex supply chains where input and output proportions cannot be directly measured.

The rules also clarify geographical scope. Recycled plastic from non-EU countries can count towards targets, but with conditions: OECD-member countries are included from November 2027, and non-OECD countries only where specific EU agreements on environmentally sound waste management are in place.

Economic operators must issue batch-level declarations of recycled content, and those applying chemical recycling methods are subject to mandatory third-party verification. Member States report annually using standardised formats.

The Commission will review the Decision by January 2030.