The future plastics industry – Development and challenges from a political perspective

The plastics industry is facing an exciting transition with the goal of becoming both circular and bio-based. The fossil raw materials will be replaced by using waste, renewable raw materials and carbon dioxide. Development is moving forward quickly and there are already several exciting initiatives here in Sweden. But for it to work, a renewal of many laws and regulations is also needed. Our legislation comes from the end of the 20th century when waste was something that was piled up and politics pushed for the waste to be incinerated instead. Now we face the next step. It requires a transition from an “energy recycling” policy to a “material recycling” policy.