The plastic tax in Spain

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The plastic tax in Spain has become a topic of great interest, raising both debate and concern within the industry. Vicente Olmos Jorge has been interviewed by Sustainable Plastics on the subject and the impact it has had on the sector and on the global consumption of recycled plastic materials.

5 questions for Vicente Olmos Jorge, CEO Sintac 

1. You have been named Plastics Recycling Ambassador 2024, what does that mean to you? 

Being named Plastics Recycling Ambassador 2024 has been a real surprise for me. I am deeply grateful for the recognition that highlights the work of three decades of professional career in the recycled plastics sector. For me, the nomination is a real honour, although it is a challenge at the same time, as this year I would like to contribute to the development and growth of the European plastics recycling industry, encouraging the use of recycled materials that promote the circular economy and therefore Sustainability. In 2024 I intend to bring all my knowledge and experience to the PRS family, so that together we can work for the industry and continue to build a better future for it.

2. Do you believe that the plastics tax has had a positive impact on the Spanish plastics recycling industry? 

From my point of view, the plastic tax ought to have had a positive impact on the Spanish industry; unfortunately, however, it did not turn out to be as expected. Although there were expectations in the sector that the approval of the tax would lead to a higher consumption of recycled material, it did not occur so, leaving our industry in a rather challenging moment. It is true that in Spain we have been one step ahead of the rest of Europe, since at European level the plastic tax is not yet a reality, yet this has resulted in foreign companies having since then a certain advantage in our market. Nevertheless, given the forecasts for the evolution of the industry, we have faith that all processing companies will become increasingly aware that the sustainability and circularity of their products, which make them more competitive, will be exponentially enhanced by incorporating quality recycled plastic, such as that offered by SINTAC. This allows companies to satisfy both the necessity and the obligation to comply with regulations at the same time.

3. European recyclers have had to face up to the rising prices of recycling, high energy prices and competition from cheap imports. How has SINTAC faced these challenges in the Spanish market? 

The Spanish market is at the same complicated point as the European market, and at SINTAC Recycling we have faced these challenges in the Spanish market in the same way as in the European market. Certainly, at the moment we are going through great difficulties and the circumstances are demanding considerable sacrifices in terms of prices in order to be able to keep them in line with the prices we have always had. I believe that if this situation is not resolved in the near future and the sector starts to recover, the whole recycling industry will be in major trouble. Only by maintaining the recycling line and being supported by the European authorities to ensure that all players in the value chain follow the regulations will be able to cope with it. Furthermore, it is crucial that end consumers understand the need for the products they buy to contain recycled material, and we must continue to raise awareness of the importance of consuming products that contain recycled plastic material and encourage recycling throughout society as a whole. Our industry is one that brings ecology, helps to protect the environment and the whole of society should support us in continuing our work, developing a more circular, sustainable and responsible industry.

4. What do you think are the most important tools to promote plastic recycling? 

Certainly, the two most important tools are eco-design and the final consumer holder of the waste, whether at a domestic or industrial level. Eco-design, properly understood, means designing products so that they are easily recyclable. By ensuring that, a lot will already have been achieved. We should not forget that recycling comes from waste, which we subsequently transform into raw material. Thus, society should realise that the promotion and assistance in classifying waste of different types appropriately is essential and that every single citizen is key to the plastics recycling process. Besides, consumers should understand that in order to foster plastics recycling, products made from recycled material should be consumed. Another important tool to promote the recycling of plastics is the support of the authorities to the industry, demanding and legislating the use of recycled products. In this way, the plastics recycling industry would have a direct impact on the above-mentioned points regarding the decisive role played by the end consumer. Hence, the plastics recycling industry would be supported both by all the companies in the product value chain, from the beginning with the eco-design when it is only a product, to the end, when it is already a recoverable waste for the final consumer, and also by the authorities, which would promote the use of recycled material and thus the circular economy of the industry. 

5. If you had to choose a sustainability trend that will disappear from the agenda in 2030, what will it be? 

If I had to choose a sustainability trend that will disappear from the agenda in 2030, I would choose the trend of some companies towards greenwashing. Admittedly, greenwashing has been a topic of conversation for years, but it has not been until recently that European companies and governments have begun to act accordingly, implementing anti-greenwashing measures and legislating to minimise these practices that are so harmful to the corporate world and society in general. Such is the social and governmental pressure to combat these practices that the European Union has approved a new Directive 2024/825, which places limits on misleading practices in product advertising. The new Directive aims to provide clear and truthful information on products, to help consumers make responsible and sustainable purchasing decisions. In this sense, progress is being made towards achieving Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. The plastics industry in general, and the recycling industry in particular, have been greatly harmed by the “demonisation” of our plastic materials and products in Europe. This has been unfairly exploited by some. So, we very much look forward to the outcomes of this European Directive. From now on, claims made publicly will have to be supported by the results of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) reports, for example.

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