The Dutch recycling sector is under pressure, but the food industry is stepping up. Twenty major brands – including Unilever, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and FrieslandCampina – have committed to increasing their use of circular plastics in packaging. This commitment is at the heart of a broader package of measures presented by the Plastictafel, which advises the Dutch government on the future of circular plastics.
Starting this year, participating companies will collectively use around 115,000 tons of circular plastic annually across the Netherlands and the EU. That number is expected to rise further beyond 2026. The food industry plays a significant role: alongside the multinationals mentioned, brands like Albert Heijn, PepsiCo, Bonduelle, Cosun, JDE Peet’s, Kraft Heinz, and Vrumona have also signed on. Their efforts are expected to result in an annual CO₂ reduction of roughly 265 kilotons. These are voluntary commitments that go beyond current legal requirements and extend at least until 2030.
For food producers, this mainly concerns packaging materials that must meet high standards for food safety and material quality. “Thanks to the brand owners and retailers who are truly sticking their necks out,” says Hester Klein Lankhorst, chair of Verpact. “They’re driving demand for circular plastic, and we’ll support that with the Circular Plastic Bank, extended fee differentiation, and innovation incentives.”
The Circular Plastic Bank will serve as a digital platform connecting supply and demand for recycled plastics. Buyers can specify what type of recyclate they’re looking for—even if it's not yet available. That way, recyclers can anticipate market demand when deciding where to invest. Verpact will also provide certification to verify the source and quality of materials. Companies that use more recyclate will pay a lower waste management contribution, as part of a flexible fee system designed to reward circular choices.
Under the upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), plastic packaging must contain an average of 20 to 25 percent recycled content by 2030. In the Netherlands, that figure was still around 10 percent in 2022. The Plastictafel stresses that additional policy measures are needed to make this target achievable.
One key proposal is to subsidize both investments (CAPEX) and operational costs (OPEX). At the moment, circular plastic is roughly €500 per ton more expensive than fossil-based alternatives. Without targeted financial support, many projects risk stalling before they can scale. The report suggests allocating around €50 million per year from the Climate Fund to help bridge this economic gap.
The Plastictafel also recommends exempting recycling residues from waste taxes. These are leftover materials from sorting or processing. Such an exemption could help reduce processing costs, including for producers or packaging suppliers who work in close cooperation with recyclers.
Both Verpact and the industry association VNCI advocate for EU-wide standards for circular plastics. National deviations create uncertainty and increase investment risk. According to VNCI’s Mark Intven, alignment with European policy should go hand in hand with climate targets: “You can take national steps, but only if you also stimulate demand for products containing circular polymers and offer some compensation for the added costs.”
The Plastictafel emphasises that the Netherlands is still among the frontrunners in Europe, but that position is quickly slipping. Since 2022, three million tons of production capacity have been lost and several recycling firms have gone bankrupt. Without a stable European regulatory framework combined with national implementation, the sector may struggle to regain momentum.
Source: Plastictafel
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