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Plastics – the Facts 2019

An analysis of European production, demand and waste data This report gives an insight into the plastics ’s contribution to European economic growth and prosperity throughout the life cycle of the . Plastics—the Facts is an analysis of the data related to the production, demand and waste of . It provides the latest business information on production and demand, trade, recovery as as employment and turnover in the . In short, this report gives an insight into the industry’s contribution to European economic growth and prosperity throughout the life cycle of the material.

The data presented in this report was collected by PlasticsEurope (the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe) and EPRO (the European Association of Plastics and Recovery Organisations). PlasticsEurope’s Market Research and Statistics Group (PEMRG) provided input on the production and the demand of plastic raw materials. Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH helped assess and recovery data. Official statistics from European or national authorities and waste management organisations have been used for recovery and trade data, where available. Research or expertise from consultants completed gaps.

Figures cannot always be directly compared with those of previous years due to changes in estimates. Some estimates from previous years have been revised in order to track progress, e.g. for use and recovery of plastics across Europe over the past decade.

All figures and graphs in this report show data for EU-28 plus Norway and Switzerland, which is referred to as Europe for the purposes of abbreviation –other country groups are explicitly listed. Plastics The European plastics industry supports the European Commission's strategy for Plastics in 2030: a Circular Economy and is highly committed to accelerate its transformation towards an even committed more circular and resource efficient plastic economy. to Since the very beginning, plastic materials were born as a solution for the substitution of scarce and non-sustainable resource such as tortoiseshell, or animal bones. Since then, plastics Circularity have shaped the world bringing safety, hygiene, comfort and wellbeing to our society.

Today resource-efficient plastics are present in an infinite range of products and applications

helping us to save energy, CO2 emissions, water and even food. They contribute to circularity, to health and safety and to mitigate . Without doubt, plastics have shaped our lives and will shape the future. Plastics contribute to: Circularity Health & safety Mitigate climate change

However, to make the most of these extraordinary materials, challenges related to the end of life of certain products - and particularly plastic packaging – still need to be addressed. PlasticsEurope’s “Plastics 2030” Voluntary Commitment has taken the industry to the next level of engagement by establishing ambitious targets and initiatives to prevent the leakage of plastics into the environment; increasing the reuse and recycling of plastic packaging waste and contributing to resource efficiency benefits.

For more information on “Plastics 2030”:

4 https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/focus-areas/strategy-plastics 5 Plastics Marine litter is a global challenge and it is unacceptable that waste, including plastic waste, ends up in our do not environment, our rivers and our oceans. Plastics are belong to valuable resources that bring numerous benefits to society by offering sustainable solutions in countless the oceans sectors. Whether caused by irresponsible behaviour or poor waste management practices, it is deplorable that plastics are littered.

For years, the plastics industry has been engaged PlasticsEurope is also committed to at a global level in combatting marine litter. prevent pellet loss and is a signatory PlasticsEurope is a committed signatory to the of the initiative Operation Clean global Declaration for Marine Litter Solutions for Sweep©, a voluntary programme that preventing leakage of plastics into environment. promotes proper pellets containment In the framework of the Global Plastics Alliance along the entire plastics value chain. (an alliance of 74 plastics associations from This programme is being implemented around the world) over 355 projects have been across the plastics industry value chain run or are ongoing in different parts of the in order to avoid plastic pellet spills. globe to fight this problematic.

www.marinelittersolutions.com www.opcleansweep.eu

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1 Contribution to European society Key figures of the JOBS European Over 1.6 million people plastics The plastics industry gives direct employment to more than 1.6 million industry people in Europe

The European plastics industry includes plastics raw materials producers, plastics converters, COMPANIES plastics recyclers and Close to 60,000 companies plastics machinery An industry in which close to manufacturers in the EU28 60,000 companies operate, Member States. most of them being SME’s

TURNOVER More than 360 billion euros The European plastics industry had a turnover of more than 360 billion euros in 2018

8 9 TRADE BALANCE 15 billion euros The European plastics industry had a positive trade balance of more than 15 billion euros in 2018 * Data including only plastics raw materials producers and plastics converters

MULTIPLIER EFFECT INDUSTRIAL VALUE ADDED x2.4 in GDP 7th in Europe and almost x3 in jobs The European plastics industry ranks 7th The European plastics industry in Europe in industrial value added has a multiplier effect of 2.4 in contribution. At the same level as the GDP and almost 3 in jobs* * and very close to the * The European House Ambrosetti study, data for Italy, 2013 * Measured by gross value added at factor prices, 2013

PUBLIC FINANCES RECYCLING Close to 30 billion 9.4 million tonnes euros In 2018, 9.4 million tonnes The European plastics of plastic post-consumer industry contributed to waste were collected 28.8 billion euros to public in Europe to be recycled finances and welfare in 2018 (inside and outside the EU)

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2 Market data What are We talk about "Plastics" as if it were a single material, but that is not the case. "Plastics"? In the same way that we know that there are different types of metals with different properties, plastics are also an extensive family of different materials. Each plastic is designed with specific characteristics that make it ideal for the application to which it is intended, providing us with very resource-efficient solutions.

Plastic materials can be produced from different sources. Its raw materials can be of fossil origin (crude , gas, etc) or renewable (sugar cane, , vegetable , etc) or even base (). Regardless of the nature of their raw materials, certain plastics are also biodegradable. This means that provided they are properly collected and treated together with organic waste, they can biodegrade and become compost.

Whatever their origin, at the end of their life, plastic materials are important resources that we can use either in the form of new materials or as an alternative energy source once used in facilities.

12 13 Discovering the wide are a family of plastics that can be melted when heated and hardened when cooled. These characteristics, which lend the material its name, family of are reversible. That is, it can be reheated, reshaped and frozen repeatedly. plastics (PE) (PC) (PP) Poly (PMMA) The plastics’ family is Polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) (TPE) composed of a wide Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Polyarylsulfone (PSU) variety of materials (PS) Fluoropolymers designed to meet Expanded polystyrene (EPS) PEEK the very different ABS POM performance The two categories of plastics of categories The two SAN PBT requirements (PA) EVOH of thousands Etc. of end products. Thermosets

are a family of plastics that undergo a chemical change when heated, creating a three dimensional network. After they are heated and formed these plastics cannot be re-melted and reformed.

Polyurethane (PUR) Unsaturated - resins resins Urea - formaldehyde resins Melamine resin Phenolic resins Vinyl Acrylic resins Etc. 13 World and Europe (EU28+NO/CH) EU plastics production 2018 61.8 data million tonnes 2017 64.4 In 2018, global plastics million tonnes production almost reached 360 million tonnes. In Europe, plastics production almost reached 62 million tonnes. World 2018 359 million tonnes 2017 348 million tonnes SOURCE: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH Includes Thermoplastics, , Thermosets, Elastomers, , and and PP-Fibers. Not included: PET-fibers, PA-fibers and Polyacryl-fibers. 14 15 CIS

NAFTA 3% Asia of global 18% Europe plastics 17% 51% production

In 2018 China reached 30% of world's plastics production. World plastics* production: 359 million tonnes.

Middle East, Africa 30% China Latin 4% Japan America 7% 17% Rest of Asia

4% SOURCE: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio * Includes Thermoplastics, Polyurethanes, Thermosets, Elastomers, Adhesives, Coatings and Sealants Market & Strategy GmbH and PP-Fibers. Not included: PET-fibers, PA-fibers and Polyacryl-fibers. 15 Plastics In 2018 Bn € the industry 30 reached 25 Extra EU exports a positive Extra EU imports Extra EU exports trade 20 Extra EU imports Extra EU trade balance balance of 15 more than 15 billion 10 9.4 bn € euros 5

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Plastics processing Bn € 15

10

5.8 bn € 5

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 SOURCE: Eurostat

16 17 2018 2018 Extra EU Exports Extra EU Imports Extra EU trade partners in value

In 2018, the USA Plastics manufacturing Plastics manufacturing was the first trade 12.9% 23.1% partner of the European 12.7% 12.2% 14.7% Plastics Industry. 6.6% 11.6% 6.1% 7.7% 6.6% USA USA China China Turkey Russia S. Korea S. Arabia Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland

Plastics processing Plastics processing 15.6% 23.4% 10.2% 14.6% 12.3% 9.2% 8.0% 11.6% 5.4% 5.9% USA USA Japan China China Turkey Turkey Russia SOURCE: Eurostat Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland 17 2018 2017

GERMAN 24.6%

ITAL 13.9%

FRANCE 9.4%

SPAIN 7.6% UNITED KINGDOM 7.3%

POLAND 6.8% Countries conerting more than 3 million tonnes

elgium & uembourg 4.6%

etherlands 4.3% Cech Republic ustria Countries conerting Seden ulgaria less than 0.5 million tonnes Portugal reland Hungary oray Romania Slovenia Siterland Croatia Greece ithuania inland atvia enmark Estonia Slovakia Cyprus & Malta

19 51.2 M t European converters demand Plastics in 2018 (EU28+NO/CH) 2018 2017 demand by

GERMAN 24.6% countries ITAL 13.9% 2018 FRANCE 9.4%

SPAIN 7.6% European plastic UNITED KINGDOM 7.3% converters demand includes POLAND 6.8% Countries conerting more than thermoplastics, 3 million tonnes polyurethanes elgium & uembourg 4.6% and other plastics.

etherlands 4.3% Does not include: Cech Republic adhesives, coatings, ustria and , Countries conerting PET fibers, PA fibers, Seden ulgaria less than 0.5 million tonnes PP fibers and Portugal reland polyacryl-fibers. Hungary oray 80% Romania Slovenia The six largest European

Siterland Croatia countries* and the Benelux cover almost 80% Greece ithuania of the European demand. inland atvia SOURCE: PlasticsEurope * In terms of population. Market Research Group enmark Estonia (PEMRG) and Conversio Slovakia Cyprus & Malta Market & Strategy GmbH

19 6.2 % Plastics ELECTRICAL demand & ELECTRONIC 9.9 % 19.8 % by segment 3.4 % AUTOMOTIVE & 2018

Distribution of 4.1 % European (EU28+NO/CH) HOUSEHOLD, plastics converters LEISURE demand by segment & SPORTS in 2018. Packaging and Building & Construction by far represent the largest end-use markets. 16.7 % The third biggest end-use OTHERS Others includes market is the Automotive appliances, mechanical , , Industry. medical etc.

39.9 % PACKAGING

SOURCE: PlasticsEurope 51.2 M t Market Research Group Total European plastics (PEMRG) and Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH converters demand

20 21 51.2 M t Plastics Total European plastics demand converters demand by resin

M t types 2018 Distribution of European (EU28+NO/CH) plastics converters demand by resin type in 2018. Leading are the (PE & PP).

SOURCE: PlasticsEurope PP PS P PC Market Research Group PC PUR PE EPS PMM (PEMRG) and Conversio S S Other EP Market & Strategy GmbH PE PEPEH PEM Other plastics 21 19.3% 17.5 % 12.2% Plastics demand distribution by resin types PP PE-LD / PE-LLD PE-HD / PE-MD Food packaging, sweet and snack Reusable , trays and containers, Toys, milk , shampoo 2018 wrappers, hinged caps, microwave agricultural , food packaging bottles, pipes, houseware, etc. containers, pipes, automotive parts, film, etc. notes, etc. Data for EU28+NO/CH. 10% 7.9 % 7.7 %

PVC PUR PET Window frames, profiles, floor and Building insulation, pillows and Bottles for water, soft drinks, covering, pipes, cable insulation, mattresses, insulating foams juices, cleaners, etc. garden , pools, etc. for fridges, etc. 6.4% 19% OTHERS PS / EPS Hub caps (ABS); optical fibres (PBT); Food packaging (, eyeglasses , roofing sheets (PC); touch screens (PMMA); cable in SOURCE: PlasticsEurope fishery), building (PTFE); and many Market Research Group insulation, electrical & others in , medical implants, (PEMRG) and Conversio electronic equipment, surgical devices, membranes, & Market & Strategy GmbH inner liner for fridges, eyeglasses frames, etc. seals, protective coatings, etc. 22 23 POLMER Packaging Building Automotie Electrical Agriculture Household Others Plastics TPES Construction Electronic Leisure Sports demand by PE-LD / PE-LLD segments PE-HD / PE-MD and PP PS types EPS in 2018.

PVC Total

PET 51.2 M t

ABS / SAN Data for EU28+NO/CH.

PMMA

PA

PC

Other thermoplastics

PUR SOURCE: PlasticsEurope Other plastics Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH

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3 From waste to resource EPORTS EPORTS EPORTS The life o converted plastics o plastic products o other products cycle of packed in plastics Life serice plastic of plastic products he service lie o plastic products Conerters products goes rom less than Manufacture Consumption year to years or more EPORTS demand o plastic o plastic In order to understand o plastic materials o plastic products products the life cycle of plastic materials products it is important to understand that Production not all plastic products o plastic materials IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS are the same and o plastic materials o converted plastics o converted o other products not all have plastics packed in plastics the same service life. Plastics become Plastic Some are a product in itself aste at the end post-consumer (i.e. a ) and some are o their service lie waste parts of an end-user generation product (i.e. parts of a car RECCLIN or electronic devices, 32.5% insulation for a building, etc.). At the end of their life, COLLECTED NON waste collected waste the end-user products become waste which is ENER collected and treated. RECOVER 24.9% 42.6%

26 27 Some plastic products EPORTS EPORTS EPORTS o converted plastics o plastic products o other products have a lifespan of less packed in plastics Life serice than one year, some of plastic products others of more than he service lie o plastic 15 years and some Conerters products goes rom less than have a service life of 50 Manufacture Consumption year to years or more years or more. EPORTS demand o plastic o plastic o plastic materials o plastic products products Thus, from production materials to waste, different plastic products show Production different uses within o plastic individual value materials IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS o plastic materials o converted plastics o converted o other products chains. Therefore, the plastics packed in plastics amount of collected Plastics become Plastic plastic waste does not necessarily correlate aste at the end post-consumer with the plastics o their service lie waste demand of the same generation year. RECCLIN 32.5%

COLLECTED NON waste collected waste

ENER LANDFILL RECOVER 24.9% Data for EU28+ NO/CH 42.6% SOURCE: Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH * Littering and unauthorised dumping 27 +19% 29.1 M t (2018) % Since 2006, 100% +77% -44 24.5 M t the amount Recycling Energy recovery Landfill (2006) of plastic Collected plastic waste sent post-consumer waste to recycling has doubled 2006-2018 evolution of plastic post-consumer M t waste treatment (EU28+NO/CH) CAGR* However, 25% of plastic 15 development post-consumer waste 2018 vs. 2016 12.9 was still sent to landfill 12.5 12.4 4.8% in 2018.

10 9.4 5.7%

7.5 7.0 7.2 -1.1%

5 4.7

2.5

0

SOURCE: Conversio Market 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2016 2018 & Strategy GmbH *CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate is the mean annual growth rate over a specific period of time 28 29 Plastic post- Recycling consumer -39% 2016 waste % 32.5 2018 treatment 81% Inside EU in 2018 19% Outside EU Plastic waste In 2018, 29.1 million extra-EU exports tonnes of plastic waste 29.1 M t were collected in the EU28+NO/CH collected plastic % 42.6 Energy recovery in order to be treated. post-consumer waste Plastic waste exports outside the EU have decreased by 39% from 2016 to 2018. 24.9%

Landfill SOURCE: Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH

29 Siterland ustria etherlands Germany Countries uembourg with landfill Seden restriction inland implemented elgium enmark oray Estonia reland U Slovenia rance taly Portugal Spain ithuania Cechia Poland Slovakia Hungary Romania Recycling atvia Croatia Energy recovery ulgaria Cyprus Landfill Greece Malta

20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 31 Plastic post-consumer waste rates of recycling, energy recovery and landfill per country in 2018 Zero landfilling Siterland ustria is needed etherlands Germany Countries to achieve uembourg with landfill Seden restriction the circular inland implemented elgium economy enmark oray of plastics Estonia reland Countries with landfill U restrictions of recyclable Slovenia rance and recoverable waste taly have, on average, Portugal higher recycling rates of Spain ithuania plastic post-consumer Cechia waste. Poland Slovakia Hungary Romania Recycling atvia Croatia Energy recovery ulgaria Cyprus Landfill Greece Malta SOURCE: Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 31 +19% 17.8 M t (2018) % Since 2006, +92% +84% -54 14.9 M t the quantity Recycling Energy recovery Landfill (2006) of plastic Collected plastic post- post- consumer packaging waste consumer 2006-2018 evolution of plastic PACKAGING* CAGR** development packaging M t waste treatment (EU28+NO/CH) 2018 vs. 2016 waste sent 8 7.5 4.6% to recycling 7.2 has 7 4.1% 6 increased by 92%

4 3.9 2018 data show a positive 3.8 3.3 -1.2% trend for recycling, however more than 18% 2 of the waste is still sent to landfill.

0

SOURCE: Conversio Market 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2016 2018 & Strategy GmbH *From household, industrial and commercial packaging **CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate is the mean annual growth rate over a specific period of time 32 33 Plastic PACKAGING* waste treatment in 2018 (EU28+NO/CH) Recycling is the first option for Recycling plastic packaging 42% waste

In 2018, 17.8 million tonnes of plastic 17.8 M t post-consumer collected plastic packaging waste were post-consumer collected in order packaging % to be treated. waste 39.5 Energy recovery

18.5%

Landfill SOURCE: Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH *From household, industrial and commercial packaging 33 More than Plastic PACKAGING recycling half of the rates across Europe countries More than 5% have Between % and 50% plastic Between % 40% packaging Less than % recycling rates above 40%

In 2018, 17 countries had recycling rates higher than 40% and 3 countries higher than 50%.

SOURCE: Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH

34 35 Plastic PACKAGING* recycling rate** per country in 2018 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Plastic Cechia Recycling rates of packaging Spain plastic packaging etherlands recycling Germany waste in Europe range Estonia between 26% and oray 52%. This wide range The new Directive (EU) Seden can be explained by 2018/852 on Packaging atvia and Packaging Waste taly differences in collection U schemes, available sets higher recycling ithuania infrastructure and targets per material (50% Slovakia consumer behaviour. for plastic packaging by Slovenia 2025 and 55% by 2030), elgium On average, the 42% uembourg recycling of plastic together with a new Portugal packaging represents calculation method of Romania recycling performances. Siterland an increase of Cyprus 1.2 points versus 2016, This new method will start Poland in particular thanks to be applicable for data ulgaria to improved waste of the year 2020. ustria enmark collection. Malta reland Mechanical Croatia EU recycling packaging Greece Chemical recycling rate: Hungary recycling rance igure inland SOURCE: Conversio Market * From household, industrial and commercial packaging & Strategy GmbH ** According to the current calculation methods established in Directive 94/62/EC 35

4 Snapshot and outlooks In 2019, the trend for plastics Plastic and rubber machinery in primary Plastics in primary forms forms and Plastic products rubber machinery continued but plastics products slightly recovered

Plastics industry production in EU28 index (2015=100, trend cycle & seasonally adjusted data).

SOURCE: Eurostat

38 39 Estimated growth rate: The 2019: -5.0% declining 2020: -0.5% growth from the

Production primary plastics previous Average annual index estimates year

120 continues in 2019 110 Production of primary plastics, EU28. Index 2015=100 100 on a quarterly basis; seasonally and working day adjusted; 90 annual average.

80

SOURCE: Eurostat 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

39 Glossary of terms

ABS butadiene resin PEEK Polyetheretherketone ASA Acrylonitrile styrene resin PE-HD Polyethylene, high bn Billion PE-LD Polyethylene, low density CH Switzerland PE-LLD Polyethylene, linear low density CIS Commonwealth of Independent States PE-MD Polyethylene, medium density Conversio Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH PEMRG PlasticsEurope Market Research Group EU European Union PET Polyethylene terephthalate EPRO European Association of Plastics Plastic materials Thermoplastics + Polyurethanes Recycling and Recovery Organisations PMMA Polymethyl methacrylate EPS Polystyrene, expandable POM ETP Engineering Thermoplastics PP Polypropylene GDP Gross domestic product PS Polystyrene kt Kilotonnes PTFE M t Million tonnes PUR NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement PVC NO Norway SAN Styrene-acrylonitrile Other plastics Thermosets, adhesives, coatings Thermoplastics Standard plastics (PE, PP, PVC, PS, EPS, and sealants PET [bottle grade]) + Engineering plastics PA Polyamides (ABS, SAN, PA, PC, PBT, POM, PMMA, PBT terephthalate Blends, and others including High Performance Polymers) PC Polycarbonate Thermosets Urea-formaldehyde foam, melamine resin, PE Polyethylene resins, epoxy resins, etc. PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling , creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. Over 1.6 million people are working in more than 60,000 companies (mainly small and medium sized companies in the converting sector) to create a turnover of more than 360 bn EUR per year.

PlasticsEurope AISBL. Rue Belliard 40, box 16. 1040 Brussels – Belgium. @PlasticsEurope [email protected] | www.plasticseurope.org | www.plastics-themag.com /plasticseurope

EPRO is a pan-European of specialist organisations that are able to develop and deliver efficient solutions for the sustainable management of plastic waste, now and for the future. EPRO members are working to optimise national effectiveness through international co-operation: by studying successful approaches, evaluating different solutions and examining obstacles to progress. By working together EPRO members can achieve synergies that will increase efficient plastics recycling and recovery. Currently 25 organisations from 18 European countries plus Canada, South Africa and New Zealand are represented in EPRO.

Konigin Astridlaan 59. 1780 Wemmel – Belgium. Phone +32 (0)2 456 84 49 | Fax +32 (0)2 456 83 39 [email protected] | www.epro-plasticsrecycling.org Published on the occasion of the special show of K 2019

A project of the German plastics industry under 10-2019 the leadership of PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V. and Messe Düsseldorf. © 2019 PlasticsEurope. All rights reserved.

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