Study reveals EU must unlock 2.5 million tonnes of recycled flexibles for PPWR goal
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Summary
An industry study from CEFLEX estimates the EU will need 2.5 million tonnes of post-consumer recycled flexible packaging by 2030 to meet recycled-content rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), rising to 5.9 million tonnes by 2035. Packaging alone is unlikely to absorb the required recycled material.
Market Impact
The figures quantify the compliance gap created by EU packaging regulation, implying significant scale-up needs across recycling capacity and end-markets such as construction films and transport packaging. Demand for post-consumer recyclate is projected at 4.3 million tonnes in 2030 including non-packaging uses. This analysis is informational and avoids any directional trading claims.
Why It Matters
It translates EU regulatory targets into concrete material-supply requirements that will shape investment across the recycling and packaging value chain.
Key Points
- CEFLEX estimates meeting PPWR recycled-content rules will require 2.5 million tonnes of post-consumer flexible-packaging material by 2030.
- The requirement rises to 5.9 million tonnes by 2035, when a 55% recycling-rate target applies to all plastic packaging formats.
- An extra 440,000 tonnes per annum of recycled flexible packaging must be taken up annually between 2025 and 2035 to stay on course.
- Including non-packaging end-uses, total potential demand for post-consumer recyclate is put at 4.3 million tonnes in 2030.
Key Entities
Evidence
Collaborative initiative Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) estimates that meeting recycled content rules under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will require 2.5 million tonnes of p...Supports: Supports the 2030 requirement figure.
the group projects that this requirement will increase to 5.9 million tonnes by 2035, when a 55% recycling rate target is due to apply across all plastic packaging formats.Supports: Supports the 2035 requirement and recycling target.
The study says that, between 2025 and 2035, an extra 440,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of flexible packaging made from post-consumer recyclate would need to be taken up annually to stay on course for PPWR compliance.Supports: Supports the annual uptake figure.