Europe Plastic Waste Management Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Europe Plastic Waste Management Market Analysis

The Europe Plastic Waste Management Market size is estimated at USD 34.87 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 44.99 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.23% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

• The European plastic waste management market is mainly driven by government initiatives to curb rapid waste generation and a growing preference for sustainability.
• Plastic waste pollution is a pressing global concern. As a significant consumer of plastics, Europe plays a pivotal role in exacerbating this issue. The region's annual plastic waste production, notably from single-use items like packaging, is on the rise. However, recycling rates are lagging, underscoring the considerable distance Europe must traverse to achieve a circular economy for plastics.
• In 2023, the European Union produced an estimated 60 million metric tons of plastic waste. Projections suggest this trend will persist, potentially leading to a doubling of plastic waste generation by 2060, exceeding 100 million metric tons annually.
• Within Europe, packaging represents the primary source of plastic waste, with EU Member States collectively producing over 16 million metric tons in 2023. Over the last decade, plastic packaging waste in the European Union surged by approximately 30%.
• In Europe, landfilling and incineration for energy recovery continue to dominate plastic waste management, while recycling lags, making up less than 15% of the continent's waste disposal. Despite some progress, the plastic packaging recycling rate in the European Union has struggled to breach the 50% mark, falling short of the bloc's 2025 recycling goal.
• The plastic waste exported from the European Union to countries outside the bloc intended for treatment is factored into recycling rates. However, these shipments often face mismanagement due to inadequate waste infrastructure in the receiving nations. Despite this, plastic waste exports in the region have been on a downward trend, attributed to an increasing number of countries enforcing bans and restrictions on such imports.
• Plastic pollution is a pressing issue in Europe, prompting the region to enact new policies. For instance, the Single-use Plastics Directive of the European Union includes bans on various disposable plastic items commonly found on European beaches. The momentum for a broader single-use plastics ban in Europe is gaining traction. Notably, in November 2023, the European Union committed to halting plastic waste exports to non-OECD nations by 2026, although calls for a total export ban persist.

Europe Plastic Waste Management Market Trends

The European Union's New Policies Set to Transform the Packaging Industry and Drive Climate Neutrality by 2050

Europe Plastic Waste Management Industry Segmentation

Plastic waste management encompasses the collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of plastic waste, all aimed at mitigating its environmental repercussions. Its applications vary, spanning from municipal waste handling to industrial recycling and eco-conservation initiatives.

The European plastic waste management market is segmented by polymer (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and other polymers), source (residential, commercial, industrial, and other sources [construction and healthcare]), treatment (recycling, chemical treatment, landfill, and other treatments), and region (United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Russia, and Rest of Europe). The report offers market sizes and forecasts in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.