The circular economy (GOZ), or circular economy, is an economical model that seeks to minimise waste and maximise resource use. For now, the Polish economy has achieved a circularity of just over 10%, so we have a lot to catch up on. The more so, there are more EU regulations that will force us to accelerate the process of reaching GOZ. 1 is the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will apply from August 2026.
– To accomplish the macro-circular economy we are both far distant and close. Far, due to the fact that the alleged gap of circularity is as advanced as 90%, which shows how much we inactive gotta do. On the another hand, we are only at the beginning of the road and this is simply a very crucial minute due to the fact that we are designing an economy for the future – says news agency Anita Sowińska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment. – We besides decide, among another things, on solutions specified as extended product work or working together with the European Union on solutions, specified as the PPWR regulation, which will be crucial for the circular economy.
In February 2025, the PPWR regulation came into force, which is to start in August 2026 and is part of the European Green Deal. The fresh rules enter into force straight and do not require implementation into national law in the form of laws. The Regulation sets fresh targets for reducing packaging waste per EU citizen. By 2030, this figure is expected to decrease by 5% compared to 2018 and by 15% by 2040. Moreover, by the end of this year, at least 65% of packaging waste is to be recycled and at least 70% in 5 years. At the same time, all packaging is to be recyclable economically viable. Among another things, since 2030, the sale of cosmetics in disposable portions, available in hotels, will be prohibited, as will ketchup, mustard, butter, jam or coffee cream – they will not be served in disposable plastic packaging. Plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables for little than 1.5 kg will be banned in Europe. The EU is expected to advance reusable packaging.
In January 2025, it was 2 years since the extended work of the maker should have begun. However, so far there are no regulations aimed at reducing the amount of polluting plastic waste. For failure to implement the EU directives, Poland is facing penalties of between 30 and 60 1000 euro per day.
– The extended maker work is simply a solution that fundamentally involves the polluter paying for its waste, i.e. the maker or the wider maker of the waste being financially liable for waste management. – informs Anita Sowińska. – I believe that this is simply a very fair solution, due to the fact that at the minute the cost of waste management is mainly borne by local governments and besides by residents who bear these costs in the economy for the export of waste.
The Ministry of Climate and Environment is working on an appropriate law introducing the ROP. In mid-April, an impact assessment of this regulation was sent to KPRM. The bill is to be passed this year and enter into force from the next stages. However, in order for the circular economy to function effectively, there is besides a request for consumer interaction, which must be aware of how to deal with waste.
– Public institutions have a large influence on how we can form sustainable consumption, and that is surely education. Here the Ministry of Climate and Environment has been making educational efforts for many years, not only in schools, but besides in the media and social media for example – indicates the Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment. – These are besides financial solutions, even though the bailout strategy is simply a good example of extended maker responsibility, where a consumer who knows that, for example, a PET bottle has value, will recycle it, for example, to a vending device or another collection point. I think financial instruments are very crucial in ecology due to the fact that ecology is closely linked to economics.
The bailout strategy will apply in Poland on 1 October. Work on it lasted respective years. The aim of the strategy is to reduce the amount of mixed municipal waste received by municipalities and to increase recycling. It will yet cover plastic bottles up to 3 l, glass multi-purpose bottles up to 1.5 l and metallic cans up to 1 l. Large shops with an area of more than 200 sqm will be mandatory for the bailout system, which will gotta receive empty packages and release bail. Smaller stores will be able to enter the collection strategy on a voluntary basis (but they will receive bail).
During the Sustainable Economy Summit held on May 27–28, business experts and representatives of the MKiŚ discussed calls related to GOZ, including extended maker work and bailout system.
