The Greek Plastics Industries Association (SPPE) has prioritized three key challenges facing the sector: enhancing competitiveness, advancing the circular economy, and addressing soaring energy costs. These issues — alongside new European regulatory developments — have shaped the association’s agenda over the past period. According to the SPPE, its newly elected board, which assumed leadership in spring 2025, launched a series of targeted interventions and initiatives aimed at supporting plastics companies in Greece and strengthening their presence both domestically and across Europe.
Policy Advocacy on Energy, Taxation, and Regulation
Among the main issues raised by the SPPE with Greek authorities and European institutions are:
- Modernizing the regulatory framework for industrial plants and recycling businesses;
- Including relevant NACE codes in national support schemes for energy-intensive industries;
- Avoiding additional import duties on plastic raw materials sourced from the United States.
The association has also addressed VAT treatment for agricultural plastic products, seeking solutions to persistent administrative and fiscal hurdles faced by sector companies.
Strengthening Visibility in Greece and Europe
The SPPE increased its participation in national and European forums to amplify the voice of Greece’s plastics industry. It attended major events including the annual conference of PlasticsEurope (EuPC) and the ECP4 conference in Lyon — where European industry leaders discussed pressing challenges such as rising energy prices, competition from third-country imports, and bottlenecks in scaling up recycling infrastructure.
Through direct engagement with government officials and business representatives, the SPPE has also highlighted critical topics including implementation of new EU regulations, market surveillance, circular economy incentives, and workforce shortages.
Focus on Recycling and Environmental Awareness
Special emphasis has been placed on recycling initiatives and environmental education. Within this context, the SPPE is promoting the integration of recycling and sustainable resource management topics into formal education curricula. It has also submitted a proposal to the Hellenic Recycling Organization (EOAN) to establish a certification framework for recycled content in PET bottles — aiming to improve transparency and traceability across the recycling value chain.
Supporting Business Compliance
Keeping member companies informed about evolving regulatory requirements remains a top priority. To that end, the SPPE organizes seminars and hands-on workshops designed to help businesses adapt to changing national and EU obligations — from product compliance to extended producer responsibility schemes.
As the SPPE underscores, its overarching goal is to foster a modern, outward-looking, and competitive plastics industry — one firmly grounded in sustainability and the principles of the circular economy.