A recent study by Conversio on behalf of the IK on monitoring the use of recyclates in plastic packaging documents progress in the circular economy of plastic packaging: The use of recyclates (post-consumer recyclate, PCR, and post-industrial recyclate, PIR) has increased by 24 per cent since 2021.
These increases were largely due to an increase in PCR quantities from 369 kt in 2021 to 470 kt in 2023. „Despite the impressive race to catch up in the use of recycled plastics in packaging, the ambitious IK target we set ourselves in 2018 will be exceeded, One million tonnes of recyclates or bio-based plastics by 2025 cannot be achieved,“ summarises Dr Isabell Schmidt, Managing Director of IK Kreislaufwirtschaft, the light and shade in the study. „Our industry is characterised not only by the transparency of its key figures, but also by its unwavering determination to achieve the one million tonnes of recyclates used. But this will only succeed, when politics, industry, customers and authorities work together more cooperatively. This includes even better collection and sorting, design for recycling, reliable customer demand and faster approvals for recyclates in contact with food. The circular economy is our best economic and ecological option, and not just for Germany as a business location.“
Bio-based plastics exceed the 2 per cent mark for the first time
The proportion of recyclates in plastic packaging was also increased to 15 per cent (2021: 11 per cent). However, the amount of plastic processed fell by 12 per cent to 3,840 kt in the same period. „We are particularly pleased with the Dynamics in the field of bio-based plastics, which exceeded the 2 per cent mark for the first time,“ says Isabell Schmidt. According to the Conversio study, bio-based plastics account for 2.2 per cent of the processed volume.
New standards for the use of recyclates are essential
By monitoring the quantities of recycled material used documents the IK the major challenges posed by the targets set in the PPWR up to 2030: PET drinks bottles are currently the only packaging that meets the target with an average of 49 per cent PCR use. In non-contact-sensitive packaging (except PET), the use of PCR increased significantly from 185 kt to 258 kt, which corresponds to a share of 18 per cent - but is still below the level of the previous year. below the target of 35 per cent. Contact-sensitive packaging (except PET) has so far utilised 11 kt of PCR - primarily in the personal care sector. This corresponds to less than one per cent and is far below the required ten per cent of the PPWR.
„64 per cent of the plastic packaging produced is classified as contact-sensitive. The requirements for the recyclates used are correspondingly high. In addition to PET beverage bottles, other mechanically recycled plastics are already achieving various high quality levels. Legislators and approval authorities are called upon here to realise the existing potential efficiently, quickly and in a climate-friendly manner.“
Dr Isabell Schmidt, IK Managing Director Circular Economy
