Germany: plastics industry warns of imminent recyclate gap

A new study by Conversio, commissioned by the German plastics industry (BKV), warns that by 2030, demand for recycled plastics in Germany will exceed supply by around 30%.

Despite the progress made – particularly in packaging recycling, where the Yellow Bag system reached a rate of nearly 69% in 2023 – the sector faces a serious shortfall in the availability of high-quality recyclates.

This poses a challenge to meeting rising legal quotas, especially for demanding applications such as food packaging and automotive components.

Industry representatives have pointed to a lack of investment in infrastructure and limited policy scope as contributing factors.

With only around 3.2 million of the 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in Germany currently being collected for recycling, much of the untapped potential lies in commercial and residual waste streams.

The associations have called on the new European Commission and national governments to strengthen the recyclate market by expanding collection systems, approving additional recycling processes, and ensuring consistent quality standards across imports.

Landbell Group has reinforced its commitment to improving plastics circularity through two key initiatives.

Since late 2024, it has partnered with RecyClass to offer its customers free access to the RecyClass Online Tool for assessing the recyclability of plastic packaging. This tool helps producers align with upcoming recyclability requirements under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

The Group has also partnered with PureCycle to improve polypropylene recycling in Europe (see article here).

It is not only about recycling processes and compliance, it is also about networking. ERP shares knowledge, insights, and news so that together we can promote the sustainable agenda.