{"id":9975,"date":"2025-10-27T05:09:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T09:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9975"},"modified":"2025-10-27T05:09:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T09:09:05","slug":"eu-generates-35-3-kg-of-plastic-packaging-waste-per-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9975","title":{"rendered":"EU generates 35.3 kg of plastic packaging waste per person"},"content":{"rendered":"


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On average, each EU resident generated 35.3\u202fkg of plastic packaging waste in 2023, with just under 15\u202fkg being recycled. \/ Credit: Zigres via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In 2023, the European Union generated 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste, averaging 177.8 kg per person. While this marks a reduction of 8.7 kg per capita compared to 2022, it remains 21.2 kg higher than in 2013.<\/p>\n

Composition of packaging waste<\/h2>\n

Of the total packaging waste generated, 40.4% was paper and cardboard, 19.8% plastic, 18.8% glass, 15.8% wood, 4.9% metal, and 0.2% other materials.<\/p>\n

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Plastic packaging waste accounted for 35.3 kg per person in 2023, with 14.8 kg being recycled. This represents a decrease of 1.0 kg in generated plastic waste compared to 2022, while the amount recycled increased by 0.1 kg.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Between 2013 and 2023, the amount of plastic packaging waste generated increased by 6.4 kg per capita, while the amount recycled increased by 3.8 kg.<\/p>\n

Recycling rates across the EU<\/h2>\n

In 2023, the EU recycled 42.1% of all generated plastic packaging waste, an increase from 38.2% in 2013.<\/p>\n

Belgium recorded the highest recycling rate at 59.5%, followed by Latvia (59.2%) and Slovakia (54.1%).<\/p>\n

Conversely, the lowest rates were observed in Hungary (23.0%), France (25.7%), and Austria (26.9%).<\/p>\n

Implications for sustainability<\/h2>\n

Despite improvements in recycling rates, the continued increase in plastic packaging waste per capita poses challenges to sustainability efforts.<\/p>\n

Addressing this issue requires coordinated actions across EU member states to enhance recycling infrastructure and reduce packaging waste generation.<\/p>\n

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