The latest figures of PRE’s report reveal that Europe’s plastics recycling capacity reached 12.5 million tonnes in 2022, marking a significant milestone in EU’s commitment to sustainability. However, the recycling growth rate of plastics took a relative dive, dropping year-on-year due to market disruptions and raising concerns about the future of the plastics recycling industry.
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The Report
Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) has recently released the “PLASTICS RECYCLING INDUSTRY FIGURES 2022” report, taking into account the capacity of more than 800 recycling sites in Europe and revealing some interesting facts about the EU growth rate of the European plastic recycling industry, the recycling capacity for different polymers and future plans for new legislative developments.
The report analyzed 850 recycling sites across Europe, with most of them being small with an average capacity of 15,000 tonnes. The plastics recycling sector, with a turnover of € 10.4 billion, employs over 30,000 workers, which highlights the socio-economic impact it has on the European Union.
Challenges Faced by the Industry
Ton Emans, President of PRE, emphasized the industry’s resilience despite facing unprecedented challenges. From the COVID-19 outbreak, that led to a temporary halt in activities, followed by the energy crisis in 2022, to the more recent worrisome decline in demand for recyclates in 2023 that the recycling sector experienced, which was driven by low prices for virgin plastics and the influx of cheaper recycled plastic imports from outside the EU. Emans also stressed the importance of enforcing legislative measures to ensure continued progress, like the implementation of the Plastics Strategy and the Single-Use Plastics Directive, earlier.
Recycling of Polymers
Flexible polyolefins, PET, and rigid polyolefins continue to dominate over other recyclable plastics, representing over 80 % of the total recycling capacity. The report also detailed a tie between rigid polyethylene (PE) and rigid polypropylene (PP) capacities, with them reaching together around 25 % of EU’s recycling input capacity. Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and France account for 60 % of EU’s recycling activities, with variations in the types of polymers recycled. In addition, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania experienced the fastest growth in capacities, compared to the previous year.
Environmental Impact and Achieving Targets
While the industry has maintained a steady stream of investments over the years in order to meet legislative targets, the lower growth rate in recyclates production from 17 % in 2021 to 10 % in 2022, poses challenges, not only in meeting these targets but to the environment as well. In 2022 alone, plastics recycling activities led to a reduction of over 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to, as PRE described, “removing all Belgian passenger cars from circulation for a year”.
Legislative Developments and Circular Economy
To ensure the success of plastics circularity, new legislative developments are crucial, PRE mentions. Specifically, improving European plastics waste management will require further legislative developments and new initiatives, including proposals for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive. Enforcing these measures, along with harmonizing practices across Member States, will be essential for the industry’s sustained growth and environmental impact.
Conclusion
European plastics recycling industry faces challenges arising from market disruptions, reduced demand, and environmental concerns. Despite these obstacles, the sector has demonstrated resilience and commitment to sustainability. With legislative measures (upcoming PPWR) and targeted investments, the industry can navigate the current challenges, maintain growth, and contribute significantly to Europe’s circular economy goals. As the landscape evolves, continued collaboration and innovation will be vital to ensuring the long-term success of plastics recycling in EU.
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