The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) conducted a survey on circular economy policy for plastics to map stakeholders' views on the state of circular economy policy for plastics and the development needs of The Ministry of the Environment’s Plastics roadmap. CLC responded to the survey on behalf of the newly established Circular Economy Coalition, highlighting its strong commitment to the circular economy for plastics, as well as its active monitoring and expertise in the field.
According to the Coalition, current policy measures are not sufficient to meet the set targets: the binding nature and steering effect of the policy must be strengthened, and a revised policy should cover the entire plastics value chain, which is not currently the case. Developing quantitative targets and indicators to monitor progress is particularly important.
The Coalition supports several new policy instruments, such as public procurement criteria favoring recycled materials, expanding deposit‑refund systems, economic incentives for reuse, developing markets for recycled raw materials, and including waste incineration in emissions trading. The responses emphasize the guiding role of the market economy and the importance of economic viability for large‑scale adoption of circular solutions.
In a revised Plastics Roadmap, the Circular Economy Coalition would emphasize promoting reuse and sustainable product design, taking into use versatile recycling solutions, improving the recyclability and the use of recycled plastic, and promoting international cooperation and export of skills and solutions.
Overall, the Coalition supports a more ambitious, effective, and measurable circular economy policy for plastics, combining research data, market-driven approaches, and broad stakeholder cooperation.Effective circular economy policy for plastics is essential to create competitive, resilient, and climate-neutral markets. With clear demand signals and enabling regulation, Nordic companies can lead thecircular transformation, drawing on their advanced technologies and deep expertise.
