Will There Be Enough Recycled Material in 2030? The Answer is Alarming…

marzo 26, 2025

I recently read a newsletter discussing a study by BKV GmbH on the “Current Status and Forecast of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Demand and Availability in 2030”, and the findings are hard to ignore.

📉 The Reality Today (2022):
✅ 32.3 million tons of plastic waste were collected in the EU-27+3.
✅ 16.4 million tons were sorted and sent for recycling.
✅ 7.7 million tons of PCR were generated, but only 6.7 million tons remained within the EU.
✅ 79% of the recycled material comes from packaging.

🚨 What Will Happen in 2030?
📌 PCR demand will surge to 13 million tons in the EU-27+3, driven by new regulations like the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
📌 Under the “Business-as-usual” scenario, there will be a deficit of 3.5 million tons, meaning 27% of the required recycled material will be missing.
📌 Even in an optimistic “Advanced” scenario (where mechanical and chemical recycling expand), there will still be a deficit of nearly 800,000 tons, or 6% of the projected demand.
⚠️ The Problem is Bigger Than It Seems:
🌍 If PCR demand rises faster than expected due to new regulations or corporate sustainability commitments, the supply gap will be even larger. ç
🏭 Current recycling capacities are not enough to meet future market growth. 🚫 If there is not enough PCR available, companies won’t be able to meet sustainability goals or regulatory requirements.
💡 Solutions?
🔹 Accelerate investment in mechanical and chemical recycling.
🔹 Optimize waste collection and sorting systems.
🔹 Develop policies that incentivize high-quality recycled content.

⏳ Time is running out, and if we stick to a “Business-as-usual” approach, post-consumer recycling will become a critical bottleneck for the industry.

📢 Is your organization considering developing or increasing the quantity and quality of its recycling but unsure how to proceed?

👉 At Ecoplast Consulting, we are happy to collaborate in developing new recycling projects or assisting with future acquisitions to expand your capacity.

💬 Let’s talk and make it happen together!
#Recycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Plastics #PCR #Packaging #Regulations