French Plastics Industry Warns Candidates on
France's plastics industry union Polyvia has issued a policy paper to presidential candidates, warning of an industrial crisis driven by Chinese
France's plastics producers and processors issued a stark warning to presidential candidates on Friday, 28 August. The industry union Polyvia called for urgent action to preserve the nation's and Europe's "industrial sovereignty," citing a severe and worsening crisis.
The call follows a debate with business representatives where the threat of Chinese industrial competition was a central topic. Polyvia points to a dramatic shift in trade balances and production share over the past two decades.
Trade Deficit and Market Share Decline
Polyvia states the European Union's trade deficit for plastic components and products with the rest of the world has multiplied by eight in ten years. The union provided specific figures on the changing market shares for imports and global production.
| Metric | 2015 / 2006 | 2025 / 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Chinese products in French imports | 7.8% | 12.8% |
| Europe's share of global plastic resin production | 22% | 12% |
"In the same period, Europe's share of global plastic resin production has fallen from 22% in 2006 to 12% in 2024," the union noted. The crisis has been intensified in 2026 by the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
A White Book with Six Priorities
To halt this "industrial decoupling," Polyvia has presented candidates with a "White Book." The document outlines six priorities and contains 18 concrete proposals.
A central demand is the establishment of a European preference in public procurement. The union wants public contracts to favor products containing European recycled plastics from 2027. By 2030, it proposes reserving public purchases of plastic products exclusively for companies that produce within Europe.
Polyvia also calls for stronger controls on imported goods. It insists that the necessary conformity certificates for market access should be issued only by European bodies. The union frames this as a fundamental question of sovereignty.
"Can we talk about health, energy, automotive, or military sovereignty without controlling the production of the components and products essential to these industries?" Polyvia asks. Its answer is a clear no.
Protecting the Recycled Plastics Sector
The union issued another urgent call to protect the recycled plastics sector. European industrialists "are facing an influx of low-cost imported recycled materials," it states. This pressure has already led to significant capacity loss and plant closures.
Polyvia reports that nearly one million tonnes of recycling capacity have vanished in Europe over three years. Furthermore, at least six regeneration plants shut down in France during 2025 alone.
The French plastics and composites industry is the nation's fourth-largest industrial sector. It encompasses nearly 4,000 companies and provides 203,000 direct jobs.
