Part.5 - Plastics sustainability
04.
As secondary materials, or alternative energy feedstocks, plastics have a major role to play in the circular economy – especially when considering the low energy impact of their recycling when compared to other materials.
However, to improve the circularity of plastics, it is essential to make sure that more plastic waste is recovered and doesn’t end up in landfills.
Today, in Europe*, 32,5% of plastics are recycled but 24,9% of plastic waste are still landfilled while more than 40% are energy recovered.
Packaging is the best performing sector with 42% of recycling and only 18,5% of landfilling.
In early 2017, plastic raw materials producers committed to reach 60% of plastic packaging being recycled by 2030 and to achieve 100% recovery of all end-of-life plastics by 2040**.
* : Plastics the facts 2019
** : Plastics 2030 Voluntary commitment
01. Plastic materials contribute to circular economy
04.
As secondary materials, or alternative energy feedstocks, plastics have a major role to play in the circular economy – especially when considering the low energy impact of their recycling when compared to other materials.
However, to improve the circularity of plastics, it is essential to make sure that more plastic waste is recovered and doesn’t end up in landfills.
Today, in Europe*, 32,5% of plastics are recycled but 24,9% of plastic waste are still landfilled while more than 40% are energy recovered.
Packaging is the best performing sector with 42% of recycling and only 18,5% of landfilling.
In early 2017, plastic raw materials producers committed to reach 60% of plastic packaging being recycled by 2030 and to achieve 100% recovery of all end-of-life plastics by 2040**.
* : Plastics the facts 2019
** : Plastics 2030 Voluntary commitment