What does the Plastics Europe report reveal about the growth of circular plastics production in Europe between 2022 and 2024?

The Plastics Europe report finds that growth in the production of circular plastics—defined as plastics that are recycled or made from biomaterials—declined sharply from 13.6% in 2022 to just 1.2% in 2024; in 2024, circular plastics production totaled 8.7 million metric tons, representing 15.8% of Europe’s total plastic output.

What was the plastic recycling rate for collected plastic waste in Europe in 2024, and what happened to the non-recycled portion?

In 2024, the recycling rate for collected plastic waste in Europe reached 29.6%; the remaining waste that was not recycled ended up in landfills or was incinerated.

Plastics recycling stalls in Europe

May 21, 2026

European plastics recycling struggles as four chemical plants close, with Plastics Europe reporting circular plastic production dropped to 1.2% in 2024 despite a 29.6% recycling rate.

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Plastics recycling stalls in Europe

Plastics recycling stalls in Europe

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