Brussels, 19 May 2026 — AIM, together with 6 other industry associations representing consumer goods manufacturers has issued a joint statement expressing support for the upcoming Circular Economy Act (CEA), while warning against potential new or higher recycled or bio-based content requirements.
The associations reaffirm their support for the overall objectives of the CEA, and call for a framework that enhance the efficiency of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, facilitating efficient resource management, including through advanced recycling technologies, and stimulate competitive markets for high-quality secondary raw materials that can be used for all applications. However, policy measures should not shift the burden on downstream manufacturers, and ultimately, on consumers.
Therefore, our associations call on European Commission to refrain from setting prescriptive product design requirements. Such measures would disregard the specific needs of each product group and crucial trade-offs with product performance, safety and affordability, as well as stifle innovation with technology-neutral, outcome-based approaches. Any product-specific measure should instead be addressed under product-specific legislation, allowing policymakers to conduct specific assessments and avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.
The associations remain committed to constructive engagement with EU policymakers to ensure that the CEA framework supports both sustainability objectives and the competitiveness of the whole European industry.
