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The recycled plastics industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by increasing environmental awareness and regulatory pressure. This was a key topic at the 17th Chemical Regulatory Annual Conference (CRAC) held on September 11, 2025, where Mr. Wang Yonggang, Secretary General of the Plastic Recycling Association of China National Resources Recycling Association (CRRA), delivered a keynote speech on the industry's current status and future trends.
Global Context of Reducing Plastic Waste
Plastic pollution has emerged as a major global environmental issue, posing a significant challenge to sustainable development. In response, the United Nations initiated negotiations for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty in 2022 to manage the entire life cycle of plastics. Although progress in the negotiations has been slow, individual nations and regions are advancing with their own policies to reduce plastic waste. Examples include the EU Regulation 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR), the proposed new End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation in the EU, and the UK Plastic Packaging Tax. These policies promote the use of recycled plastics by requiring plastic packaging to contain a specified percentage of recycled materials.
Challenges and Opportunities in China's Industry
According to Mr. Wang, China's plastic production has ranked first globally for several years, with a continuous expansion of virgin plastic capacity. At the same time, China’s waste plastic recycling and reprocessing output also leads the world. However, a significant imbalance exists: there is an oversupply of low-end recycled plastics and a shortage of high-end ones. The fragmented nature of waste plastic sources complicates large-scale and single-category recycling. Additionally, the lack of standardized recycling system and effective material traceability mechanisms results in inconsistent quality control.
Efforts to Promote Standardization and Traceability
To address these issues, China is actively working to establish a more standardized and systematic industry. On February 9, 2024, the State Council issued the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Waste Recycling System, which emphasizes the need to "improve the standard system for recycled materials, study the establishment of a certification system for recycled materials, and promote international cooperation and mutual recognition". It also calls for the implementation of actions to upgrade the application of recycled materials, guiding manufacturers in the automotive and electronics sectors to increase recycled materials usage.
Additionally, on March 13, 2024, the State Council released the Action Plan for Promoting Large-scale Equipment Upgrades and Consumer Goods Replacement, which explicitly states the intention to "explore the construction of an information traceability system for recycled materials that meets international standards, such as recycled plastics and metals". The 2025 Government Work Report also highlighted the importance of "vigorously promoting the use of recycled materials".
Mr. Wang noted that China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is studying policies to expand the use of recycled materials, with a plan expected to be released by the end of the year.
He also introduced the efforts made by the CRRA. Since 2022, it has been publishing lists of Waste Plastic Sorting and Distribution Centers. To date, 62 centers have been issued across four batches, aiming to build a more structured and organized collection system.
The CPRA is also dedicated to standardizing recycled plastics. It has released several group standards, including those for the quality grading evaluation and acceptance of waste PET, HDPE and PP. The group standard, Specification for Waste Plastics Trading, establishes a code system for waste plastics, making them easier to trade as standardized commodities.
Regarding design for recyclability, Mr. Wang introduced the group standard General Guidelines for the Evaluation of Plastic Products’ Easy-to-Collect & Easy-to-Regenerate Design, which was released over three years ago and is now in the process of drafting into a recommended national standard. More than 80 products from over 30 well-known brands have received the "double-easy" design certification under this standard.
As the world's largest supplier of recycled materials, China recognizes the critical need for a trusted, independent traceability and verification system. This is a key focus for the industry to enhance its credibility and competitiveness. Efforts are underway to draft national standards for traceability, including the Requirements on Production and Marketing Management System of Recycled Plastics and the Credible Traceability System of Recycled Materials – Specification for Data Collection and Utilization, etc. Additionally, the CPRA is developing an objective and neutral platform for informational traceability and verification of recycled plastics, creating a "credit system" for the recycling industry. It's also designed to align with and gain mutual recognition from international traceability systems, ultimately strengthening the global competitiveness of China's recycled materials.
