EU Must Secure 2.5 Million Tonnes of Recycled Flexible Plastics to Meet PPWR Targets

The Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative estimates that the EU will need 2.5 million tonnes of post-consumer material from flexible packaging by 2030 to comply with the recycled content mandates of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

According to the report, ‘Secondary Applications for Recycled Content: Key Insights for Flexible Packaging,’ this demand is projected to rise to 5.9 million tonnes by 2035, coinciding with a target 55% recycling rate for all plastic packaging formats.

The analysis suggests that between 2025 and 2035, the industry must increase the uptake of post-consumer recyclate by 440,000 tonnes annually to remain on track for compliance. This requirement encompasses recycled polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixed polyolefins.

CEFLEX emphasizes that the packaging sector alone may not be able to absorb the total volume of material needed to support these higher recycling rates. Consequently, the group identifies alternative outlets—including horticulture products, transport packaging, refuse sacks, and construction films—as vital secondary markets. When these sectors are included, the total potential demand for post-consumer recyclate is estimated at 4.3 million tonnes by 2030.

Arne Jost, external affairs director at CEFLEX, noted that achieving these targets requires more than just increasing recycling volumes. “It depends on whether that material can move into real applications, at the right quality and at scale,” Jost stated, adding that the study serves to identify exactly where those markets exist and their practical requirements.

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