Belgium: a coordinated system delivers results
A key example came from Lieven Capon of Fost Plus, Belgium’s producer responsibility organisation for household packaging. Belgium has achieved a household plastic packaging recycling rate of 71% in 2024, supported by a highly coordinated ecosystem that connects packaging companies, municipalities, waste operators, sorting centres and citizens. Centralised contract management, harmonised collection and sorting systems, and strong material flow control have helped create consistent, high-quality recycling processes.
According to Capon, a major turning point was the expansion of plastic collection in 2019, combined with significant investments in domestic sorting and recycling infrastructure. Belgium invested in new sorting centres and recycling facilities, creating favourable conditions for a local circular economy and reducing dependence on exporting materials for treatment. Financial incentives have also encouraged companies to improve the recyclability of their packaging.
Finland: progress and remaining challenges
The Finnish perspective highlighted both progress and remaining challenges. Mika Surakka from Sumi (a Finnish non-profit producer responsibility organization) emphasised that plastic packaging accounts for a significant share of producer responsibility costs in Finland. At the same time, collection rates have been improving, and investments in new domestic sorting capacity are expected to strengthen recycling performance further. A new plastic packaging sorting facility currently under development aims to reduce transport needs, secure recycled raw materials for Finnish industry and improve recycling rates.
Mia Nores from The Recycling Industries of Finland underlined that collection alone is not enough. To create a functioning circular economy, recycled materials must have strong and predictable demand. Measures such as recycled-content requirements, circular public procurement and policies that support investment in recycling markets will be critical for increasing the use of recycled plastics across Europe.
Looking at the broader policy landscape, Petrus Kautto from Finnish Environment Institute noted that Finland has already introduced stricter collection requirements, modulated producer fees and infrastructure investments. However, achieving increasingly ambitious recycling targets will require a combination of measures rather than a single solution. Creating demand for recycled materials, supporting recycling investments and continuing to improve collection and sorting systems will all play an important role.
Key takeaways: collaboration across the value chain
The webinar highlighted that higher recycling rates are not achieved through regulation alone. Success depends on collaboration across the value chain, long-term investments, effective incentives and well-functioning markets for recycled materials. As Europe advances its circular economy agenda, experiences from both Belgium and Finland offer valuable lessons for building more circular and resilient packaging systems.
You can access the recording of the event here.
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