Market Overview

The Europe recycled plastics market was valued at 13.3 Million Tons in 2024 and is projected to reach 19.6 Million Tons by 2033. During the forecast period 2025-2033, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.42%. The increasing adoption of sustainability practices, advancements in recycling technologies, growing consumer environmental awareness, and government support are key contributors to this growth.

Study Assumption Years

• Base Year: 2024
• Historical Years: 2019-2024
• Forecast Years: 2025-2033

Europe Recycled Plastics Market Key Takeaways

• Current Market Size: 13.3 Million Tons in 2024
• CAGR: 4.42%
• Forecast Period: 2025-2033
• Germany dominated the market in 2024 due to its strong environmental policies and advanced recycling infrastructure.
• The market growth is driven by corporate sustainability efforts and mounting adoption of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs.
• Increasing government incentives and subsidies are catalyzing investments into recycling technologies and infrastructure.
• Rising consumer awareness about energy savings and environmental benefits of recycled plastics encourages adoption.
• The packaging sector leads application segments, reflecting urgent needs to reduce environmental footprints.

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Market Growth Factors

The growing awareness of plastic pollution among organizations and other actors was a key driver in the growth of the recycling plastics market in Europe during the forecast period. Efficient recycling technologies are developments that have been driving the growth of the regional market, along with EPR programs. These are among the most deployed measures to curb plastic pollution by government, industry, and NGOs. Several 'Extended Producer Responsibility' (EPR) schemes are expected to increase the recovery and recycling of plastics with plastic bottles especially dominating input streams to recycling facilities. These factors are expected to drive the market toward growth at a CAGR of 4.42% from 2025 until 2033.

Government level policies such as stricter environmental regulations and incentives aid the movement. Several European countries use policy for regulating plastic use and recycling. Companies find that financial incentives lower costs as the companies switch to green alternatives. Financial incentives also assist in scaling recycling infrastructure to an optimal level. The European Environment Agency set climate targets in 2021. It intended to be climate neutral by 2050. The intention was also to reduce greenhouse gases 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Government support helps recycled plastics compete so the 2030 climate target favors recycled plastic use by today onward.

From using recycled plastics, consumers become aware regarding energy savings and environmental benefits. The savings and benefits reduce energy usage and carbon footprint. This growing awareness is another factor that drives growth of the recycled plastics market. For example, the Plastics Europe, the European trade association for plastics manufacturers, invests to produce up to 1.2 Million Tons of recycled plastics by 2025. Energy efficiency in recycling as well as better lifecycle analysis favors the use of recycled plastics and creates additional demand while driving innovation and infrastructure investment up the supply chain.

Market Segmentation

Analysis by Source:

• Plastic Bottles: Largest source in 2024, heavily targeted by recycling initiatives to reduce single-use plastic pollution. Widely reused in packaging, textiles, and bottle manufacture, improving circular economy practices.
• Plastic Films
• Rigid Plastics and Foams
• Fibres
• Others

Analysis by Application:

• Packaging: Leading application in 2024, driven by the urgent need to minimize packaging's environmental footprint and regulatory incentives for recycled content.
• Electrical and Electronic: Not provided in source.
• Automotive
• Agriculture
• Construction and Demolition
• Household (Non-Packaging Use)
• Others

Analysis by Plastic Type:

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Market leader in 2024, critical for circular economy with enhanced qualities making rPET a favored sustainable solution in packaging and other applications.
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Others

Analysis by Country:

• Germany: Largest market share in 2024, due to its sophisticated recycling infrastructure, government programs, and industrial demand.
• UK
• Italy
• France
• Spain
• Others

Regional Insights

Germany dominated the Europe recycled plastics market in 2024, supported by its advanced sorting and processing technologies and strong government policies promoting sustainability. Its recycling infrastructure and extended producer responsibility initiatives foster extensive use of recycled plastics across automotive, packaging, and manufacturing sectors. This leadership positively influences neighboring markets, reinforcing Germany as a key force in Europe's recycling landscape.

Recent Developments & News

• April 2025: DePoly secured USD 23 Million in seed funding to launch a 500-ton-per-year PET recycling plant in Monthey, Switzerland, using fossil-free chemical recycling.
• March 2025: OMV inaugurated its ReOil chemical recycling plant in Schwechat, Austria, with a capacity of 16,000 tons per year for processing hard-to-recycle plastics into pyrolysis oil.
• March 2025: Eni's Versalis launched a mechanically recycled plastic production plant in Porto Marghera, Italy, focusing on packaging and construction.
• February 2025: KINGFA opened a chemical recycling facility in Montalbo, Spain, processing 30,000 tons annually of high-performance recycled plastics.

Key Players

• Müller-Guttenbrunn Group
• MBA Polymers, Inc.
• Paprec Group
• Morssinkhof
• Rymoplast

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