A lot of mass, little circulation

Global plastic consumption exceeded 400 million tons for the first time in 2022. In the EU, it is around 100 kilograms per capita and could double by 2060. Production and processing contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, while mismanagement and losses release millions of tons of macro and microplastics into the environment. The EU has set an important course with the Green Deal, the Plastics Strategy and the Single-Use Plastics Directive. Nevertheless, the recycling rate remains low at around 20 percent, and chemical recycling or bio-based plastics have so far only played a minor role. Against this background, the Joint Research Centre's study "Plastics materials flows in the EU-27 and their environmental impacts" examines plastic flows in the EU-27 for 2022. The aim is to identify fields of action for a circular plastics economy.