EU circularity of plastic materials

In 2020, the contribution of secondary plastics produced/recycled in the EU amounts to 8,1 % of the total plastic material consumption in the EU.

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The EU circularity of plastics shows an increasing trend reaching 8.1 % in 2020, up from 6.8% in 2018. This is due to both an increased uptake of recycled materials and a small decrease in plastic consumption in the EU. Both trends have a positive effect on the EU circularity of plastics as more recycled plastics is being used and less plastics is being consumed. However, the reduction in the consumption of plastics in 2020 might have been affected by the economic slowdown due to the measures addressing the COVID pandemic.

Although the methodology for calculation is not directly comparable, the circularity of plastics is still lower than the EU overall circularity standing at 11.7 % in 2020.

The EU circularity of plastic materials is the share of secondary plastics consumed in the EU in the overall EU plastics consumption. This metric addresses the main objective of the circular economy policy agenda to close material cycles. Increases in the plastics circularity means that more and more of the EU plastics consumption needs are covered by recycled materials, thus reducing the need for virgin plastics and the associated negative impacts on the environment and climate. Increasing the EU circularity of plastic materials can happen either by increasing the amount of secondary materials production or decreasing the amount of material consumed.

Definition

The EU circularity of plastic materials is the share of secondary plastics produced/recycled in the EU in the overall EU plastic materials consumption.

Methodology

The share of plastics recycled in the EU of the overall plastic consumption in Europe

Plastics recycled in the EU is based on installed plastics recycling capacities

Overall plastic consumption in Europe includes plastics put on market and textiles made of plastics

EU plastic consumption is based on data on plastics put on market, excluding textiles, from Plastics Europe

Statistical and market data supported by stakeholder interviews

Modelling/extrapolation

Statistical data on textiles made of plastics from Eurostat data

Metadata

Plastics consumption

2018: The Circular Economy for Plastics - A European Overview o Plastics Europe

2020: PlasticsEurope-CircularityReport-2022_2804-Light.pdf

For synthetic textiles: Source: Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/page/DS-056120__custom_6306626; synthetic fibres and yarns are included under product groups 13.10 and 20.60 in Prodcom

Plastic recycling capacity

Plastics Recyclers Europe: https://www.plasticsrecyclers.eu/

Plastics Europe https://plasticseurope.org/resources/market-data/

Additional reading

· https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/reducing-loss-of-resources-from/reducing-loss-of-resources-from

· https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-wmge/products/etc-wmge-reports/greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-natural-capital-implications-of-plastics-including-biobased-plastics

· https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/pathways-towards-circular-plastics-in#:~:text=The%20increased%20circularity%20of%20plastics,value%20and%20utility%20of%20plastics.

· https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/plastics-the-circular-economy-and