Turnover in Europe’s plastics recycling industry has entered its ‘sharpest decline’, Plastic Recyclers Europe says, with turnover down 5.5%.
The Plastics Recycling Industry Figures 2024 report shows the largest capacity contraction ever recorded, Plastic Recyclers Europe says.
Preliminary 2025 data reveal a 50% rise in recycling facility closures, according to the report, resulting in the loss of almost one million tonnes of European recycling capacity in three years.
Plastic Recyclers Europe says Europe remains ‘well below’ the 6% annual growth required to achieve the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) targets, with a total installed capacity of 13.5 million tonnes in 2024.
Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, said: “Now is the time to stand united for the sector – not only to protect jobs and businesses at risk, but to safeguard Europe’s environmental and technological progress, ensuring a sustainable future for all.”
“We call on the EU institutions and national policymakers to act decisively and implement supportive measures to preserve the sector and Europe’s circular economy.”
Plastics Recyclers Europe says the sector is facing growing pressure from high production and energy costs, falling demand, and increasing volumes of low-priced, unregulated imports from outside the region.