Plastics protect our health and safely shape our modern lives : Come and see for yourself !

Today, in Europe, over 30% of plastic waste is recycled and more than 40% is used to produce energy. Despite that 27% of plastic waste is still landfilled. Packaging is the best performing sector in terms of recycling, with nearly 41% of recycling and only a bit more than 20% landfilling.

In early 2018, plastic raw materials producers committed to reach 60% of re-use and recycling of plastic packaging  by 2030 and achieve 100% of all end-of-life plastics being re-used, recycled or recovered in 2040 (See Plastics 2030 Voluntary Commitment*).

To recycle more, Member States are constantly working to:

• Stop landfilling of recyclable and other recoverable waste by 2025. This does not only apply to plastics but also other materials.
• Improve separate collection of bio-waste and dry-recyclables such as plastic packaging.
• Support innovation in plastics recycling.

In Europe, waste which cannot be recycled sustainably should be used as a source of energy, generating an additional 300 TWh of electricity and heat each year which is enough to:

• Provide 30 million people with electricity, heating and cooling
• Save 70 million barrels of crude oil used in industrial production, e. g. of cement.

*https://www.plasticseurope.org/application/files/7215/1715/2556/20180116121358-PlasticsEurope_Voluntary_Commitment_16012018_1.pdf