According to Plastics Europe, 400,3 Mt of plastics were produced globally in 2022, with 58,8 Mt in Europe, of which nearly 80% came from fossil and non-renewable sources. Polyolefins, particularly polypropylene (15,4%) and polyethylene (22,1%), are among the most consumed plastics.

Félix González David Pérez & Amparo Pradas - ITENE

 

Recycling post-consumer plastics from packaging poses a significant challenge in Europe, with only 37,8% of the 18,5 Mt of waste generated annually being reintroduced into the value chain. Of this waste, 17,3% ends up in landfill and 44,9% in energy recovery.1 According to Plastics Europe, in 2022, the annual consumption of plastics in Spain was 4,48 Mt of with 2,15 Mt being polyolefins.

 

 

Recent years have seen significant progress at the legislative and regulatory level. Directive 2018/852 on packaging and packaging waste and Royal Decree 1055/2022 on Packaging establish that packaging recycling rates should increase to 65% by 2025 (50% for plastics) and 70% by 2030 (55% for plastics). Significant efforts must be made in recycling, as current European rates stand at 46%.

The Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils introduces a tax on single-use plastic packaging, aimed at...READING MORE AT https://www.infopack.es/revista/314/index74.html