Circular economy MEP to boost renewables, the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) has welcomed the European Parliament draft reports on waste legislation.

Circular economy MEP to boost renewables, ACE said it commended the Rapporteur on the overall direction of the draft reports and supports in particular the proposals to encourage the use of bio-based packaging.

The ENVI Committee’s Rapporteur has proposed legislative action requiring Member States to take such measures as “improving market conditions” and “reviewing existing legislation hampering” bio-based packaging. This is a significant step forward from the policy intentions of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan, said ACE.

“ACE members welcome the Rapporteur’s emphasis on incentivising the use of renewable, bio-based sources in packaging materials”, said ACE president Kristian Hall. “These legal measures are needed to secure investments in the production of innovative materials from renewable sources. This will support Europe’s access to resources and improve the environmental performance of packaging.”

ACE said it is also encouraged by the Rapporteur’s proposal to increase separate collection and sorting of all packaging wastes and to reduce municipal waste landfilled by 2030 to 5%. “This sends a strong signal that all packaging that is recyclable should be recycled”, said Sabine von Wirén-Lehr, chair of ACE Task Force circular economy and senior manager, public affairs at Tetra Pak International.

ACE will consider the details of the Bonafè draft reports in the coming days and said it’s looking forward to further discussion with the European Parliament over what is needed in terms of legislation on waste to contribute to the realisation of a circular economy.