EU circularity of plastic materials

In 2022, the contribution of secondary plastics produced/recycled in the EU amounts to 12.1% of the total plastic material consumption in the EU.

The EU circularity of plastics shows an increasing trend; in 2018 it was 6.9 %, while in 2020 it was 8.2 % and further increasing to 12.1 % in 2022. 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.

The EU circularity of plastic materials is the share of secondary plastics produced/recycled in the EU in the overall EU plastic materials consumption. So the metric is linked to the metrics on EU plastics consumption (as a metric for overall EU plastics use).

The strength of metric lies in its combination of both the primary and secondary materials consumption and its decoupling. It indicates whether or not the growth in secondary materials production is compensated by more plastic materials consumption. Increasing the EU circularity of plastic materials — either by increasing the amount of secondary materials production or decreasing the amount of material consumed — will reduce the amount of primary material needed, and the associated negative impacts on the environment and climate. What is missing, compared to the CMUR indicator, is the net EU trade (export – import) of secondary plastics (recycled plastic waste). This information is not readily available. Therefore, the current metric is limited to the share of EU secondary plastic materials production in the total EU plastic use.

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

Recyclates used is based on the volume of secondary plastics produced/recycled in the EU

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

For plastics: https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/the-circular-economy-for-plastics-a-european-analysis-2024/

For synthetic textiles: Source: Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ds-056120__custom_15615654/default/table?lang=en; synthetic fibres and yarns are included under product groups 13.10 and 20.60 in Prodcom

Recyclates used in the EU (2018, 2020, and 2022 values)

https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/the-circular-economy-for-plastics-a-european-analysis-2024/

Additional reading

· Reducing loss of resources from waste management is key to strengthening the circular economy in Europe

· ETC/WMGE Report 3/2021: Greenhouse gas emissions and natural capital implications of plastics

· Pathways towards circular plastics in Europe — good practice examples from countries, business and citizens

· Plastics, the circular economy and Europe′s environment