Plastics Europe opposes extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in its current form to plastics

Plastics Europe shares the European Commission's climate ambition and commitment to prevent carbon leakage. We believe that, in its current form and timing, extending CBAM to plastics and organic chemicals would not achieve these aims and could instead undermine the EU's industrial transformation by imposing high emission and administrative costs, leaving critical scope gaps, and eroding competitiveness and support at a critical time for the plastics industry.

We therefore recommend not extending CBAM to plastics and organic chemicals at this stage. Instead, we urge the Commission to adopt the immediate measures set out below and engage in a structured co-design - with industry and Member States - of a fit-for-purpose longer-term framework that combines effective leakage protection with an accelerated decarbonisation process.

Plastics Europe stands ready to collaborate with the Commission and provide data, technical expertise, and practical design options to ensure that Europe's climate leadership translates into industrial success and high-quality jobs in Europe.