According to a recent study commissioned by the BKV, the amount of recycled plastics is not expected to be sufficient to fulfil the statutory recyclate usage quotas that have already been decided and planned. According to the study, the demand for recycled plastics in Germany will exceed the supply by 30 per cent in 2030.
The circular economy for plastics in Germany has made considerable progress in recent years. This can be seen in the Record value for the recycling of plastic packaging in the Yellow Bag: In 2023, the recycling rate was once again well above the legal requirements at just under 69 per cent. The use of recyclates in plastic products is also continuously increasing.
Despite this positive development, the amount of recycled plastics will not be sufficient to fulfil the statutory recyclate usage quotas that have already been decided and are planned. The background to this is a recent study by Conversio on behalf of the BKV, according to which the demand for recycled plastics in Germany exceeds supply by 30 per cent in 2030. „The Gap between supply and demand will become ever greater for plastic recyclates in the coming years and presents the industry with a fundamental problem. Without suitable plastic recyclates, the statutory quotas, e.g. for packaging or automobiles, cannot be met,“ says Dr Oliver Möllenstädt, Managing Director of the German Plastics Association (GKV)
„If we don't double the current rate of 3.5 per cent per year in the expansion of recyclate supply in Germany by 2030, we are heading for a recyclate gap of almost one million tonnes. Across the EU, the gap is 3.5 million tonnes. In addition, the quality requirements for recyclates, e.g. in food contact, will further increase the gap.“
Dr Alexander Kronimus, Deputy Managing Director of PlasticsEurope Germany
Too much plastic waste goes unnoticed
The associations cite the following reasons for the shortage of recyclates One-sided policy focus on packaging waste, while large quantities of plastic waste from businesses and residual waste have so far been ignored and incinerated.
„Previous investments in the expansion of sorting and recycling infrastructure are nowhere near enough. We need to break out of our silo mentality and tackle the challenges across all sectors. All adjustments must be geared towards the goal of a circular economy.“
Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association.
The current BKV-The study „Status quo and forecast of demand and availability of post-consumer recyclates in 2030“, conducted by Conversio, confirms the importance of packaging for the circular economy: 80 per cent of all plastic recyclates come from the packaging market, which the study predicts will change very little by 2030. However, even in 2030 more than half (55%) of recycled packaging plastics used in other sectors, especially in the construction and automotive sectors.
Associations call for the recyclate market to be strengthened
Together, the associations of the German plastics industry are calling on the new EU Commission and the next German government to take measures to strengthen the supply of recyclates: Firstly, the amount of plastic waste collected for recycling must be significantly increased, e.g. through separate collection of commercial waste, household waste and in the public sector. As the study shows In Germany, only 3.2 million tonnes of 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste are collected for recycling. Only recently, another BKV study showed that mixed commercial waste and construction waste contain a unused potential of around one million tonnes of plastic waste lies dormant. Secondly, the legal framework conditions need to be adapted: Specifically, the associations are calling on the new EU Commission to swiftly implement further authorise safe recycling processes for use in the food sector, so that other plastic recyclates can be used in addition to recycled PET, e.g. in food packaging.
The associations reject calls for protectionist measures, but at the same time demand better monitoring of imports. Anyone who gives the impression that the EU can achieve the goal of a circular economy by isolating itself from the rest of the world is barking up the wrong tree. In fact, the EU is already a net importer of virgin plastics in terms of tonnage and the import of recycled plastics is also playing an increasingly important role in view of the recyclate gap. The global market also plays a decisive role in the sale of plastic products.
The associations agree that the import of recyclates that do not meet European standards must be stopped and that market surveillance must be expanded. The already the obligation to certify imported recyclates provided for in the EU Packaging Regulation by an independent third party is seen as a step in the right direction.
Source: Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK)
