A new study by Plastics Recyclers Europe showed that 65 percent recycling target for plastic packaging is achievable by 2025. The study determined a set of measures and necessary tools that will result in attaining this recycling rate.
Proposed measures focus among other aspects on improving the quality and capacity of the sorting of plastic packaging waste across the EU. An additional measure, such as Design for Recycling would increase the recyclability of plastics packaging on the market and help to reduce sorting and recycling costs.
These measures would ultimately lead to an increased quality of the produced recyclates and ultimately rise consumers’ confidence in recycled products. This set of measures should be complemented with a strong communication across the plastics value chain and with a legislative push enabling higher uptake of recycled materials.
The study also highlighted the environmental, societal and economic benefits of increased recycling rates. Substitution of unused with recycled plastics saves 80 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, creates 115 400 jobs and an extra one billion euros in economic benefits.
The proposed measures and the entailed benefits are clear indicators as to why the legislators should strongly keep pursuing the ambitious target to enable circularity for plastics.
