The European Market

Europe is the second largest producer of plastics in the world, yet very little is recycled. According to the most recent published figures, less than a third of all plastic waste collected in Europe was recycled. This is about to change. Plastic recycling in Europe is expected to grow significantly in the next five to ten years, primarily in response to increased pressure from regulators, consumers, and major brands:

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Regulators – Legislation is in place to rapidly increase the use of recycled plastic. The EU action plan for the Circular Economy, a European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy was adopted in 2018, which sets out the following vision for the period up to 2030:

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• By 2030, all plastic packaging is either reusable or can be recycled.

• By 2030, more than half of plastics waste generated in the EU is recycled.

• By 2030, sorting and recycling capacity has increased fourfold since 2015.

• Europe confirms its leadership in the development of sorting and recycling technologies.

Consumers - Consumer expectations for recycled plastic have increased due to the wave of information relating to the harm that plastic waste may be causing. According to an academic study sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, every human on Earth is ingesting nearly 2,000 particles of plastic – the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic – every week. This may have a profound impact on our health.

Major Brands - Massive quantities of plastic are spilling into the oceans — the equivalent of a dump-truck load every minute. Companies are super sensitive to their brands being displayed in waste on coastlines, riversides, and within communities. Many are pro-actively increasing the use of recycled plastic.