What are the latest developments?

What are the latest developments? We’ve picked out some highlights for May 2025:

Circular plastics: RecyClass updates Recyclability Methodology
Ecodesign: Commission adopts 2025–2030 working plan
Critical raw materials: Commission launches industry consultation
Portable batteries: collection rates decline

Circular plastics: RecyClass updates Recyclability Methodology

The non-profit, cross-industry initiative, RecyClass, has published an updated version of its Recyclability Methodology to align with upcoming regulatory developments, particularly the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

The updated methodology simplifies the recyclability classification system from six classes to three: materials previously classified as D, E and F are now designated as ‘non-recyclable’.

The new methodology also revises thresholds for recyclable plastic content to match the preliminary requirements under the PPWR.

The RecyClass Audit Scheme already incorporates these changes for assessing plastic packaging recyclability.

With this update, RecyClass aims to maintain a science-based, consistent approach that helps the plastics value chain adapt to new legislative targets and promotes circularity.

According to Paolo Glerean, Chairman of RecyClass, the revisions are part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to provide reliable tools that support a transition towards a more sustainable plastics economy.

Landbell Group offers its customers the opportunity to evaluate the recyclability of their plastic packaging free of charge using the RecyClass Online Tool.

Read more about its partnership with RecyClass here.

Ecodesign: Commission adopts 2025–2030 working plan

The European Commission has adopted the 2025-30 working plan under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Energy Labelling Regulation.

The plan identifies priority product groups for new ecodesign and energy labelling requirements in the coming five years. These include steel and aluminium, textiles (with a focus on apparel), furniture, tyres and mattresses.

The initiative aims to support the EU’s broader environmental and industrial objectives by improving the durability, reparability, resource efficiency and sustainability of products placed on the EU market.

In addition to product-specific measures, the Commission plans to introduce horizontal rules on reparability and recyclability for categories such as consumer electronics and small household appliances.

Delegated acts will establish the new requirements, supported by preparatory studies and stakeholder consultations, notably via the Ecodesign Forum.

The delegated acts for steel and iron will be developed in 2026. Those for textiles, tyres and aluminium will follow in 2027.

The Commission also intends to address the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises in the delegated acts.

Critical raw materials: Commission launches industry consultation

The European Commission has launched a Call for Input to collect feedback from market participants on the procurement and recycling of critical raw materials and the interaction with EU competition rules.

This consultation forms part of the follow-up to the Clean Industrial Deal Communication. It aims to assess whether further industry cooperation is needed to support access to critical raw materials in a manner that is consistent with competition law.

The consultation invites companies involved in the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials – particularly those of strategic importance for sectors such as renewable energy, digital technologies, aerospace and defence – to submit their views by 31 May 2025.

The initiative complements the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which seeks to build a secure and diversified supply of critical materials.

Depending on the input received, the Commission may consider issuing guidance on the compatibility of cooperation initiatives with EU competition rules.

Its goal is to support the development of sustainable supply chains.

Portable batteries: collection rates decline

According to new Eurostat data, the EU’s collection rate for portable batteries and accumulators reached 46.5% in 2022. This falls short of both current expectations and upcoming targets set by the new EU Batteries Regulation 2023/1542.

Although collection rates had steadily increased prior to 2019, peaking at 51.4%, they declined in the following years despite continued growth in battery sales.

Between 2019 and 2022, batteries placed on the market rose by 18%, outpacing the 11% growth in collection volumes.

Barriers to higher collection rates include:

mixing batteries with other waste streams
longer battery lifetimes
stockpiling in households, and
limited public awareness

As part of the EU’s broader Zero Pollution Action Plan, new targets for portable batteries set in the EU Batteries Regulation require producers to reach 63% collection rates by 2027 and 73% by 2030.

Landbell Group does not consider the current way that collection rates are calculated to be a good indicator of collection performance.

The Group has consistently advocated for collection rates to be based on quantities available for collection, rather than quantities placed on the market.

It did so most recently in its latest white paper here.

This concern was also addressed in the EU Batteries Regulation, empowering the Commission to adopt delegated acts to amend the methodology to calculate the collection rate for portable batteries by 18 August 2027.