Europe Recycled Plastics Market to Hit 20.2 Million Tons by 2034

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Europe recycled plastics market size reached 13.89 Million Tons in 2025 and is forecast to reach 20.2 Million Tons by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.2% from 2026 to 2034. This growth is driven by sustainable packaging emphasis, stricter environmental regulations, and wide adoption of extended producer responsibility programs. The market is also propelled by government policies promoting recycling infrastructure across packaging, automotive, and construction industries. Consumer preference for eco-friendly products further accelerates demand.

Study Assumption Years
Base Year: 2025
Historical Period: 2020-2025
Forecast Period: 2026-2034

Europe Recycled Plastics Market Key Takeaways
The market size was 13.89 Million Tons in 2025 with a CAGR of 4.2%, projected to reach 20.2 Million Tons by 2034.
Plastic bottles hold the largest source share at 38% in 2025, boosted by deposit return schemes and advanced recycling technology.
Packaging is the leading application with a 49% share in 2025, driven by sustainable packaging demand and recycled content mandates.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dominates plastic types with 42% share in 2025, due to strong collection systems and recyclability.
Germany leads by country with 24% market share in 2025, backed by advanced waste infrastructure and comprehensive deposit schemes.

Key drivers include European regulation and related legislation for recycled content requirements in plastics, such as the SUPD, which mandates higher minimum recycled content for PET beverage bottles and ambitious collection rate targets for separate collection of plastic bottles. In parallel, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) implements similar legally binding recycled content targets for all plastic packaging, ensuring demand, collection and recycling investments.

Many major consumer goods and packaging companies have set ambitious packaging sustainability promises which include commitments to reach certain levels of recycled content across their portfolio of packaging beyond existing regulatory minimum commitments, as part of the firms' Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy, pushing recyclers to expand their facilities to improve processing quality. Thus, sustainable packaging creates goodwill and consumer loyalty and satisfies the verbalized expectations of stakeholders.

Deposit return schemes and separate collection systems for packaging are expanding across EU member states. Germany achieves over 98% collection rates with retailer involvement and incentives provided for consumers. Several other countries are implementing or have announced similar schemes, as well as improvements in feedstock quality including new advanced sorting technologies.

Courtesy: www.openpr.com