- The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requires that all packaging be recyclable by 2030.
- Flexible plastic films are especially difficult to recycle, and only 14% is recycled in the EU. A new program called InFact aims to create a circular system for flexible plastic packaging films, comprises 16 partners across the value chain, and will run from 2026 to 2028.
Flexible plastic packaging is very widespread, thanks to its versatility, cost, and effectiveness. In Europe, it is estimated that 45% of plastic packaging is made from flexible materials. Yet, according to the European Environmental Agency, only 14% of flexible plastic is recycled, a far lower rate than the 41% over overall household plastic waste that is recycled.
The material itself presents many challenges. Since flexible plastic is frequently used for food packaging, the waste is often contaminated and too dirty for recycling. What’s more, although it’s made from the same kinds of polymers as rigid plastic, its small size and thinness cause it to jam conventional recycling sorting machinery.
