Our CEO Mattias Philipsson took part this week in a roundtable discussion with EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall on the future of plastics recycling in the EU. The following day, he was named Europe’s Plastics Recycling Ambassador at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe conference.
On 5 May, representatives from across the plastics value chain gathered in Amsterdam for a roundtable with EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall. Among the participants was Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Svensk Plaståtervinning – and the day after, he was awarded the title of Plastics Recycling Ambassador of the Year at the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026.
Three messages to Brussels
Roswall, who within the Commission is responsible for environment, water resilience and the circular economy, convened stakeholders ahead of the upcoming introduction of the Circular Economy Act – a legislative package expected in autumn 2026.
Svensk Plaståtervinning put forward three clear messages:
- The direction and timeline for PPWR – and Europe’s circular transition as a whole – must remain firm.
- Europe’s resilience is best strengthened through a circular and harmonised single market.
- Recycled materials must be given better competitive conditions compared to virgin raw materials and linear alternatives such as incineration – through clear policy instruments and financial incentives.
The messages align with an article published by Roswall in Dagens industri the same day, in which she highlights Europe’s dependence on fossil raw materials as a strategic vulnerability and points to circularity as part of the solution.
“The European plastics recycling industry is under severe pressure, but there is also now a strong will and tremendous opportunities to make plastics part of the circular economy. That is a chance we must seize,” says Mattias Philipsson.
Ambassador of the Year in Europe
At the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2026 gala – part of the tenth edition of Plastics Recycling Show Europe – Mattias Philipsson was named Plastics Recycling Ambassador of the Year. The award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to advancing the role of plastics recycling in Europe’s transition to a circular economy.
“Incredibly humbling and unexpected – I am both proud and delighted,” says Philipsson.
