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Europe's Plastics Recyclers Hit Record Downturn as Capacity Shrinks
13 Nov
Summary
- Plastics recycling industry turnover down 5.5% in 2024
- Installed capacity contracted at record pace, risking 1 million tonnes
- Half of lost capacity in Netherlands and UK
According to the latest annual report by Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), the European plastics recycling industry recorded its steepest decline in 2024. Turnover was down 5.5% year-on-year, and installed capacity contracted at a record pace.
Preliminary data for 2025 points to a worrying trend, with a 50% rise in facility closures expected. This could put almost 1 million tonnes of capacity at risk across Europe over the next three years. The industry's installed capacity stood at 13.5 million tonnes in 2024, well below the 6% annual growth needed to meet packaging and waste regulation targets.
For the first time, both input volumes and recyclate output fell, with production slipping from 7.7 million tonnes in 2023 to 7.5 million tonnes in 2024. Industry turnover also declined from €9.1 billion ($10.5 billion) to €8.6 billion.
The report cites high raw material and energy costs, weak demand, and rising volumes of low-priced, unregulated imports as the main drivers behind this record downturn. Half of the lost capacity was in the Netherlands and the UK.
Polyolefin films and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) were the most affected segments, each representing 25% of closures in 2023-2024. HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene) each accounted for 15%, with other polymers making up the remaining 20%.
