In 2023, the total capacity reached 13.2 million tonnes which marked an increase of 6% per year. This is the lowest advancement since 2017.
Until this point, capacities had doubled in only 5 years with an average growth of 17%, which reflects the sharp decline of the growth.
The figures – which were analysed by Plastics Recyclers Europe – show that polyolefin films retain the highest overall capacity, followed by PET and rigid polyolefins.
Germany holds the highest installed plastics recycling capacity in the continent reaching between 2 and 2.5 million tonnes, followed by Spain with around 2 million tonnes.
The data came from all 27 EU member states and also Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
Ton Emans, president of Plastics Recyclers Europe, commented: “The challenges the EU’s plastic recycling sector faced in 2022 have been confirmed by the latest figures for 2023.
“Additionally, investments have halved, with only 500 million euros in 2023 compared to 1 billion euros that were injected in 2022.”
Plastics Recyclers Europe said that the figures raise concerns about the viability of achieving the EU recycling and recycled content targets.
Some of the leading causes of this situation are the higher production and energy costs for European companies, the lack of demand for EU-recycled plastics, and the increase in imports of virgin and recycled plastic from outside the EU – which are often unverified and not on a par with the requirements with which EU-recycled plastics comply.
The plastics organisation has called on member states and European institutions to act now to enforce existing legislation to secure the competitiveness of the EU’s industry and ensure the steady growth of plastic recycling capacities.
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