The Permanent Materials Alliance (PMA) has issued a call to action urging EU policymakers to prioritise resource efficiency and circular economy principles for 2024-2029.

A manifesto published this month emphasises the advantages of aluminium, steel and glass as “permanent materials” that retain their inherent properties through endless recycling loops.

The report says countries unable to meet the ambitious new EU recycling targets should be helped by targeted EU funding to implement more effective collection and sorting infrastructure and to invest in high-quality recycling facilities.

A swift implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the development of secondary legislation and harmonised standards will be a determining factor in providing visibility and securing a well-functioning market for sustainable products, according to the PMA report.

“Secondary legislation should support both environmental objectives and the practical needs of the packaging industry,” it says.

Among its key proposals, the PMA advocates EU policy transitioning from a waste-focused approach to a resource-based framework.

Manufacturers are also encouraged to champion the establishment of effective collection and sorting systems to achieve a separate collection rate of 90% across all member states.

And the PMA calls for harmonised definitions of high-quality recycling to ensure recycled materials meet equivalent standards to primary raw materials.

It urges EU policymakers to base policy decisions on “sound scientific advice”. The report says: “The design for recycling guidelines must be backed by robust expertise, multi-stakeholder dialogue and solid evidence on the performance and capabilities of existing recycling systems.”