Plastics are composed of polymers i.e., compounds made of many small molecules. In most cases, plastics are derived from oil. Common types of plastic include:
PET (Polyethylene Terephtalate) a highly recyclable material typically found in plastic bottles and clothing;
HDPE (High-density Polyethylene) a softer material with high resistance commonly used in plastic bags and toys;
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) a rigid plastic that is highly resistant to corrosion and frequently used in cosmetic packaging and cables;
LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene) a soft, flexible plastic often used as food wrapping;
PP (Polypropylene) commonly found in food packaging such as butter or yoghurt containers and plant pots; and
PS (Polystyrene) and EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) often used for meat trays and plastic foam cups and plates.
In 2020, more than 10 million tonnes of post-consumer plastics waste were sent for recycling in Europe. In 2020, only 35% of post-consumer plastics were recycled, while 42% of post-consumer plastics were used for energy and 23% were landfilled. For plastic packaging, the recycling rate reached 46% in 2020 – representing a 9.5% increase since 2018 – while 37% were used for energy and 17% were landfilled. Recycling is crucial for transitioning away from a linear economy and closing the loop of the circular economy by reintroducing high-quality recycled plastics into new products. EuRIC advocates for a favourable policy framework that stimulates a circular economy for plastics that includes:
mandatory recycled content targets to stimulate plastic recycling demand;
improved collection of plastics that meet the needs of state-of-the-art technologies;
restricting exports of plastic waste;
developing criteria to ensure that products are designed for mechanical recycling i.e., where the chemical structure; of the plastic does not need to be altered. Enhance the interface between waste and chemical legislation; and
contributing to the work on EU standardisation.
Related EuRIC branch
Only 10%
of recycled plastics are used by the plastic sector
2.5 tonnes
of CO2 are saved for each tonne of plastics recycled compared to producing new plastics from oil
This is equivalent to charging more than 300,000 smartphones!
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