Europe’s transition towards a more circular plastics system lost significant momentum between 2022 and 2024, according to the latest edition of Plastics Europe's biennial report on the circular economy for plastics. The plastic producers' association said growth in circular plastics production and recycled content slowed sharply amid high energy costs, weakening industrial competitiveness and growing reliance on imports.
The Plastics Europe report, which covers the EU27 together with the UK, Norway and Switzerland, found that circular plastics accounted for 15.8 per cent of European plastics production in 2024. While this is an increase compared to the 14.4 per cent share observed in 2022, it was driven largely by a contraction in fossil-based plastics production....
