Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPEHow plastics can move towards circularity
A recent report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides a detailed look at plastic flows in the EU and their environmental impacts. The analysis shows that despite progress in recycling, the majority of plastics in Europe are still incinerated or landfilled, and only about one fifth finds its way back into the cycle.
In 2022, the EU consumed 62.8 million tons of plastics, equal to around 140 kilograms per person. The associated production and consumption caused over 252 million tons of CO₂ emissions, which would make the EU plastics sector the fifth largest emitter if it were a country. Packaging achieved comparatively higher recycling rates of about 35 percent, while other sectors such as textiles lag far behind, with only 1.5 percent of materials recycled.
The JRC report identifies several key pathways to reduce the environmental footprint of plastics. These include expanding the role of bio-based plastics, strengthening collection and sorting systems to reduce losses to the environment, and combining mechanical and chemical recycling to close material loops even for difficult-to-recycle streams.
Available online at: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/can-plastics-sector-become-more-sustainable-2025-08-11_en