Joint industry statement calls for ban on state-run PROs in upcoming New Circular Economy Act 

As the European Commission defines strategic priorities for the new Circular Economy Act, over 50 industry associations from across the entire packaging value chain have united to issue a Joint Industry Statement raising concerns over state-run Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs).

Why it matters
With two-thirds of EU Member States expected to miss their 2025 packaging recycling targets, there is an urgent need for policies that strengthen the circular economy. The statement highlights that:

• Effective and accountable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requires PROs to operate on behalf of producers and meet the minimum requirements under Article 8a of the WFD.
• In countries where such schemes have already been introduced, State-run PROs negatively impact separate collection, sorting, and recycling, leading to lower recycling rates.
• This could hinder compliance with the PPWR’s recyclability at scale and recycled content obligations, risking market bans for certain types of packaging and negatively affecting the cost and availability of consumer products.

What the Industry is calling For
The Joint Statement urges EU legislators to:

• Explicitly prohibit state-run PROs in the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
• Remove exemptions from the general EPR minimum requirements.
• Engage with national authorities - particularly in Poland, where there is concern about the possible establishment of a state-run PRO.

Read the full statement below.