{"id":72596,"date":"2022-12-02T10:34:24","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T09:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=72596"},"modified":"2022-12-02T07:37:18","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T06:37:18","slug":"bde-facts-and-figures-plastics-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/bde-zahlen-fakten-kunststoff-deutschland\/","title":{"rendered":"Facts and figures on plastics in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The BDE has published facts and figures on the production, processing and utilisation of plastics and the use of recyclates in Germany for 2021. Overall, the demand for plastic remains high and the important role of the circular economy has become clear.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Accordingly, total plastics production in 2021 (including adhesives, paints and varnishes, etc.) amounted to around 21.1 million tonnes (2019: approx. 20 million tonnes). 14 million tonnes were used for processing into plastic products, of which around 12 per cent recycled plastics<\/strong>. Despite a challenging environment, these volumes remained stable. As in the past Packaging and construction are the dominant segments for plastic products<\/strong>. This is followed by the technical application areas of vehicles and electrical\/electronics. According to the survey, domestic consumption of plastic products by end consumers was around 12.4 million tonnes, while the Plastic waste volume increases to 5.7 million tonnes<\/strong> totalled.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Current image of plastic in Germany <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The material flow diagram Plastics in Germany 2021: Facts and figures on the life cycle of plastics is compiled every two years and has been providing reliable life cycle data on plastics since 1994. The\u00a0study, which is an important reference source for administration, science and industry.<\/strong> promotes fact-based dialogue on the circular economy with plastics and resource conservation in the value chain.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>

The question of the raw material base is playing an increasingly decisive role. Here, too, the material flow picture provides a clear trend: the The use of recycled plastics has become an essential part of the raw material supply for the plastics industry.<\/strong> established. Overall, the proportion of recycled plastics used in the processing volume in Germany in 2021 was just under 12 per cent. In some plastics segments, the use of recyclates has been firmly established for some time, as the study now presented confirms: According to the study\u00a0Recyclates mainly used in the construction, packaging and agricultural sectors<\/strong>. The use of recycled materials in products reduces the need for primary, i.e. fossil, raw materials;\u00a0Circular economy thus contributes to securing the supply of raw materials<\/strong> and conserves resources.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The utilisation figures in detail: 99.4 per cent of the plastic waste collected in Germany was recycled in 2021<\/strong>. Of this, 1.98 million tonnes (35 percent) was recycled (34.6 percent mechanical; 0.4 percent chemical). Just under 65 per cent of plastic waste continues to be used for energy recovery and is thus lost to the material cycle<\/strong>. Less than one per cent was sent to landfill because this form of disposal is largely prohibited, unlike in other European countries. In a challenging economic environment, the overall use of recyclates from post-consumer waste improved only slightly from seven per cent in 2019 to nine per cent in 2021. The plastics value chain must make faster progress here so that more recyclates are used in new products in the future.<\/p>