In 2021, the European Union produced 188.7 kilograms of packaging waste per inhabitant, an increase of 10.8 kilograms per person from 2020. This spike marks the largest in a decade and is nearly 32 kilograms more than in 2011, as reported by the Eurostat statistical agency.
The EU’s total output amounted to 84 million tonnes of packaging waste, of which 40.3% were paper and cardboard. Plastics accounted for 19.0%, glass 18.5%, wood 17.1%, and metal 4.9%.
Throughout 2021, each EU resident, on average, generated 35.9 kilograms of plastic packaging waste. Out of this, 14.2 kilograms were recycled. Compared to 2020, both the production and recycling of plastic packaging witnessed a rise: production increased by 1.4 kg per capita (+4.0%), and recycling surged by +1.2 kilograms per person (+9.5%).
From 2011 to 2021, the quantity of plastic packaging waste per inhabitant grew by 26.7% (+7.6 kg/per person). Over the same span, the recycled volume of plastic packaging waste rose by 38.1% (+3.9 kg/per person).
Following stricter regulations implemented in 2020 to ensure member states reported their recycling figures accurately, the recycling rate shifted from 41.1% in 2019 to 37.6% in 2020. In 2021, the recycling rate trended upwards again, reaching 39.7%.
In 2021, Slovenia (50.0%), Belgium (49.2%), and the Netherlands (48.9%) recycled around half or just under half of their plastic packaging waste. Conversely, Malta (20.5%), France (23.1%), and Sweden (23.8%) recycled less than a quarter of their plastic packaging waste.
Packaging waste, generated in households, trade sectors, industries, or other areas, poses one of the world’s most significant waste challenges. It is hard to decompose and can pollute the environment for many years. This includes plastic bags, plastic and glass bottles, cardboard boxes, styrofoam food containers, foils, and adhesive tapes.