EU nations back chemical recycling for plastic bottles

Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Feb 6, 2026
European nations voted Friday to allow for chemical recycling to play a larger role in the production of plastic bottles, overcoming reservations about the energy-intensive technology. Under EU rules, single-use plastic bottles need to contain at least 25 percent of recycled plastic - with the share set to increase to 30 percent by 2030. Currently only plastic recycled through mechanica