ICIS - chemical podcasts Episode 1429: Sustainably Speaking - EU chemical recycling regulation and mass balance approach
Feb 10, 2026
Mark Victory, senior editor covering recycling and regulatory shifts in chemicals. Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and president of Chemical Recycling Europe, experienced in deploying chemical recycling tech. They discuss the SUPD mass balance decision for chemically recycled PET, end-of-waste status for pyrolysis oil, investment needs amid regulatory gaps, and demand targets for recycled materials to 2030 and 2040.
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Mass Balance Sets Regulatory Tone
- The EU mass balance decision for PET under the Single Use Plastics Directive is a major regulatory step.
- The Commission intends this decision to frame future regulatory approaches to chemical recycling.
End‑Of‑Waste Proposal Causes Pyrolysis Doubts
- The EU's end-of-waste proposal focuses on mechanical and solvent-based recycling and may cast doubt on pyrolysis oil certificates.
- This creates uncertainty for some chemical recycling routes and needs clarification.
Mandate Penalties And Immediate Demand Tools
- Add clear penalties to ensure compliance, for example a penalty twice the cost to comply as used in SAF rules.
- Drive demand now via EPR incentives or interim recycled-content measures before 2030.