The new tax on non-reusable plastic containers will have a significant impact on manufacturing companies. This is how they reported it from Foia de Castalla, a region where the majority of this sector is concentrated at the provincial level. The enactment of this regulation already increases the costs of companies in terms of management.while reducing its competitiveness. And the main fear among manufacturers lies in the loss of more customers than predictable. they may prefer containers made of other materials that are not subject to this new tax burden.. The industry also denounces the technical and administrative difficulties they face to enforce the regulations.
The date this new rate began to apply was January 1st. 0.45 Euro tax per kilogram of non-recycled plastic used in the production of non-reusable packaging. And considering that this is not the best time, despite the demands for a moratorium initiated by the Spanish Association of Plastics Manufacturers (Anaip), due to the current inflation situation and also because its implementation is extremely complex. Bosses also complain Spain is the only country in the European Union that has decided to implement this tax.critic, assuming it is a comparative complaint.
La Foia de Castalla is the epicenter of the plastics industry in the province of Alicante. about 300 companies dedicated to this activity. According to Héctor Torrente, director of the regional business association (Ibiae), the measure already has negative consequences in terms of costs, as companies have to strengthen their administrative structures to enforce the tax despite the many doubts and obstacles that still exist. . “He explains that it is very difficult to accurately determine the exact composition of plastics, and it also forces companies to do traceability, which is not always easy”. Torrente also stresses that currently non-reusable plastics are taxed. Not enough recycled plastic is produced to meet all current demand“.
However, one of the most worrying factors for the sector is the loss of competitiveness. According to Ibiae’s manager, “The risk of losing customers is really much higher because they may eventually opt for containers made of other materials, such as cardboard.”
Ibi’s ITC Packaging has a very similar view, emphasizing that they are currently working with recycled, biobased and compostable materials, but adding that they are low in availability and high in price. They also emphasize that tax has a collection purpose and is expected to be reflected in the entire chain by its nature. In this sense, it thinks that such a policy would be more effective if it was applied to all the materials from which the packaging is made and if the collection was used to improve the existing management and treatment systems for all wastes.
New tax will make shopping cart more expensive
Manufacturers in the industry warn that the new tax will affect the price of most plastic-wrapped products, making the shopping cart even more expensive. One of the main problems is that most recycled polymers are not viable for food contact, so they will be affected by the ratio.
The main employers underline that the increase in raw materials and energy makes it very difficult for the container manufacturing companies to continue to play with their margins and not pass this tax on to their customers, so everything points to the pocket of the Consumer. will be affected by this tax.
The arrival of this new rate brought together associations and companies and even tax consultants from a wide range of industries, such as food and beverage, cosmetics, distribution and supermarkets, which failed and demanded its postponement and reconsideration, both in terms of increase and necessity. because of its costs and complexity. This was expressed by Bernardo Guillem, manager of Plásticos Inden from Ibi, who, in addition to criticizing the tax, affirmed that its practice was “chaotic”.