What is the current state of Europe's plastics recycling industry?

The plastics recycling industry in Europe recorded its steepest decline in 2024, with turnover down 5.5% and installed capacity contracting at a record pace.

How will the plastics recycling industry in Europe be affected in the future?

Preliminary 2025 data indicates a 50% rise in facility closures, putting almost 1 million tonnes of capacity at risk across Europe over the next three years.

What are the main challenges facing the European plastics recycling sector?

The report cites high raw material and energy costs, weak demand, and rising volumes of low-priced, unregulated imports as the main drivers behind the record downturn in the industry.

Home / Environment / Europe's Plastics Recyclers Hit Record Downturn as Capacity Shrinks

Europe's Plastics Recyclers Hit Record Downturn as Capacity Shrinks

13 Nov

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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

Europe's Plastics Recyclers Hit Record Downturn as Capacity Shrinks

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.