The European Plastics System Unpacked
Can you imagine a sustainable plastics system that meets societal demands, supports critical sectors and remains a strategic asset for Europe? We can. Our vision is for plastics in Europe to be circular and have net-zero emissions by 2050.
From energy and food security to resilient buildings, infrastructure, healthcare and mobility, plastics make many of the systems and technologies Europe depends on possible.
Maintaining a strong European plastics manufacturing base is therefore about more than industrial competitiveness. It is about Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy, ensuring we retain the capabilities and materials needed to meet our essential needs while delivering the circular transition.
#PlasticMakesItPossible
Strategic Importance of the Plastics Industry in
Sustainable transportation
Energy-efficient buildings
Innovations in healthcare
Renewable energy
Crop protection
Click on the icons to discover examples of plastic applications.
Understanding why our European plastics system matters
Plastics play an important role in Europe’s economy. In 2024, the European plastics system employed around 1.5 million people across 50,650 companies and generated turnover of approximately €398 billion, according to the latest Fast Facts data.
The system connects many sectors, from raw material production to the end-of-life treatment of plastic products. Transforming it requires collaboration across the value chain and with policymakers. A shared understanding of how the system works and the challenges it faces can help shape effective policies and accelerate the transition to a sustainable plastics system.
The competitiveness challenge
Our journey towards circular plastics has gained momentum over time, as evidenced by the +70% increase in recycled content in 2022 compared to 2018. However, that momentum has been lost.
New data in ‘The Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Analysis 2026’ confirms a rapid slowdown in Europe’s transition to a circular plastics economy, triggered by the competitiveness crisis facing the European plastics system. Europe’s share of global plastics production has also declined from 22% in 2006 to 12% in 2024.
Equally worrying is the significant dependence of Europe’s plastics transition on external value chains, with 19% of converter demand for circular plastics met through imports and 12.4% of Europe’s collected waste recycled in other regions.
Without urgent action to restore competitiveness and unlock investment, Europe risks deindustrialisation, loss of innovation leadership, and growing dependence on imports.
Understanding and addressing competitiveness challenges is crucial for shaping a sustainable future for the European plastics system. Find out more here.
Manufacturers make plastic resins from raw materials. These resins are the building blocks for all plastic products. Manufacturers are represented by Plastics Europe.
Converters transform resins into usable plastic products and components, like medical supplies and household items.
Brands integrate plastic parts into finished goods across various industries, including automotive, construction, and consumer goods.
Waste Management Companies handle the end-of-life of plastic products through collection, sorting, recycling, landfilling, and incineration.
Recyclers process plastic waste into recycled resins for new products, involving sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reprocessing.
Our Vision for a Sustainable Plastics System
Plastics Europe and its members are committed to transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, where all plastics are designed, produced, used, reused, and recycled. Our Plastics Transition Roadmap outlines the path to achieving circularity and net-zero emissions by 2050, focusing on three strategic pillars.
The Plastics Transition
Discover The Plastics Transition Roadmap and join us in our journey towards a sustainable future. By collaborating across the value chain, we can achieve lasting positive change and ensure the European plastics industry remains a strategic asset for generations to come.
About Plastics Europe
Plastics Europe is the pan-European association of plastics manufacturers, representing close to 100 members producing over 90% of all polymers across Europe. For over 100 years, science and innovation have been at the core of our industry. We are committed to openly engaging with stakeholders and delivering safe, circular, and sustainable solutions.