By cn
The European Association of Plastics Transformers (AETP) warns of the sector’s situation, which defines as on the edge of collapse and claims immediate measures to avoid irreversible damage to danger a possible loss of strategic autonomy of Europe in many of the applications of this material.
It is part of the message that the AETP, together with 28 European organizations in the sector, has directed European institutions in a letter. The text emphasizes that the measures promoted from European institutions and from some Member States, including Spain, have caused a loss of competitiveness that threatens the survival of thousands of companies and jobs throughout Europe.
The organization highlights the fact that, due to its lightness, isolation and efficiency, it is a material that helps in the fight against climate emergency. Therefore, plastic products are applied in innumerable products and sectors that are part of the day to day such as automotive, health, agriculture, construction or distribution. What does them, also, fundamental to the economy.
This loss of competitiveness is reflected in the decrease in market share: from 22 % in 2006 to current 12 %. An eventual deepening of the current crisis would add an increase in European dependence on third countries and the forecast by the end of this year of the loss of almost one million tons of recycling capacity. Which, in turn, that would mean a risk for the objectives of circularity and climate neutrality of the Union.
Situation in Spain
The Spanish Association of Industrialists of Plastics (Anaip), which represents the sector at the national level, considers that the fact that Spain is the only Member State that applies the tax to non -reusable plastic containers has generated legal insecurity and disproportionate costs to a 98% compound sector by SMEs.
The Spanish organization also highlights, among other issues, that 40% of companies have had to face high economic charges in computer science and bureaucracy associated with said tax, the difficulty to identify which products are subject to it and estimate their amount. This situation, Anaip adds, favors the entry of imported products that do not meet the same regulatory or sustainability requirements of Europeans who move to national production.
In its letter to institutions, the AETP and European sector organizations, they propose several strategic recommendations to mitigate this situation, such as strengthening customs controls and applying mirror measures to imported plastics; favor the demand for plastic produced in the EU and with recycled content; Implement rap rates (expanded responsibility of the producer) ecomodulated and that reward recyclability and recycled content and ensure the uniform application of regulations in all member states.