Eurostat reports rising plastic recycling rates in the EU - Germany remains above average at 52 per cent. However, some member states are in danger of falling well short of the EU target for 2025.
The recycling of plastic packaging is developing positively in Europe - albeit with significant differences between the member states. According to Eurostat data for 2023, the average recycling rate in the EU is 42 per cent. Germany remains in the top group with 52 per cent.
Different pace in the member states
The European ranking is led by Belgium and Latvia with just under 60 per cent each. Countries such as Spain and Greece were also able to increase their rates by five percentage points compared to the previous year and establish themselves in the midfield. In contrast, France, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Finland are at risk of missing the EU target of 50 per cent by 2025. The target is even set to rise to 55 per cent by 2030.
The recycling rate refers to the weight of plastic packaging actually recycled - adjusted for process-related losses - in relation to the total packaging waste generated in a country.
IK warns of investment gap
The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V. sees a need for action: „Despite positive developments, there is still too little recycling in Europe overall. Some countries urgently need to catch up and invest more in their waste infrastructure and stop sending plastic waste to landfill,“ explained IK Managing Director Dr Isabell Schmidt.
According to the association, the fulfilment of the EU recycling targets is crucial for the industry to be able to implement the planned recyclate usage quotas from 2030. In Germany, the recyclability of packaging is already at around 80 per cent, which basically enables the expansion of corresponding recyclate markets.
Incentive model for early use of recyclate
The IK is in favour of a so-called „savings phase“: Companies that voluntarily use recyclates in packaging before 2030 should be able to build up a credit balance. This could later be offset against the mandatory recyclate quotas. The aim is to increase demand for recyclates in the short term and incentivise investment in recycling infrastructure.
The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V. represents the interests of around 300 manufacturers of plastic packaging and films in Germany and Europe. With over 90,000 employees, the industry generates an annual turnover of 16.8 billion euros and has a market share of around 45 per cent of the German packaging market
Source: IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V.
