The Nordic EPS Alliance (NEPSA) has been accepted as a member of the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA), the European Commission-led initiative aimed at increasing the uptake of recycled plastics and strengthening circular value chains across Europe.
The CPA, facilitated by the European Commission, brings together industry, public authorities and civil society to accelerate the transition towards a more circular plastics economy. More information about the initiative is available here.
Strengthening Nordic contributions to European circularity
NEPSA represents the EPS value chain across the Nordic region, including converters, raw material producers and recyclers. The alliance works to improve collection systems, enable effective recycling, and ensure that EPS is assessed based on measurable environmental performance.
With its CPA membership, NEPSA will contribute Nordic experience and data to the European dialogue on plastics circularity—particularly in areas where functional performance, material efficiency and system design are critical.
From systems to recognition
Across the Nordics, EPS collection and recycling systems are already established in several applications:
- Widespread collection infrastructure for EPS packaging in Denmark
- High recycling rates for EPS fish boxes across the region
- Strong integration of EPS within EPR systems and recycling markets
At the same time, NEPSA continues to work on aligning actual system performance with regulatory and market recognition, including classification under EPR eco-modulation frameworks.
NEPSA perspective
Chresten Heide-Anderson, Director of NEPSA, comments:
“Joining the Circular Plastics Alliance is a natural step for NEPSA. We see this as a platform to contribute concrete, system-based experience from the Nordics to the European discussion on plastics circularity.”
He adds:
“The key challenge is not only improving recycling in practice, but ensuring that well-functioning systems are recognised accordingly. Circularity must be assessed on outcomes—collection, recycling, and actual material flows—not assumptions about materials.”
Focus areas going forward
Through the CPA, NEPSA will engage in:
- Advancing practical solutions for EPS collection and recycling
- Contributing data and documentation on system performance
- Supporting alignment between policy frameworks and operational realities
- Collaborating with stakeholders across the plastics value chain
NEPSA’s participation reflects a continued commitment to a fact-based, system-oriented approach to circular plastics—where performance and evidence form the basis for decision-making.
