Global Plastic Packaging Recycling Rate Stands at 18%, New Data Platform Finds

Photo Credit: Systemiq

Only around 18% of plastic packaging is recycled in practice across 50 countries, according to the first findings from the newly launched Packaging Data Hub, developed by sustainability organizations Systemiq and Earth Action. The countries covered account for approximately 80% of global plastic packaging waste, providing a broad view of how packaging materials are collected and processed after use.

Flexible packaging remains one of the most difficult segments to recover. It accounts for approximately 40% of plastic packaging waste across the markets studied, yet only around 10% is recycled in practice. The findings point to persistent challenges in collecting, sorting and processing lightweight, mixed-material packaging, which can limit the amount of material ultimately returned to production.

The data also highlights differences between markets. In low- and middle-income countries, plastic packaging recycling rates are around twice as high in markets where extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes are in place compared with those without such systems. In the European Union, the platform estimates that approximately 35% of plastic packaging is recycled in practice, compared with the mandatory 55% target set for 2030 under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). These figures use a measure that counts material leaving the recycling process as recyclate, after collection and sorting losses, and therefore differ from some official recycling statistics.

Launched on November 11, the Packaging Data Hub brings together more than 100 verified public and proprietary sources, covering 50 countries and 12 plastic packaging formats, including nine rigid and three flexible categories. Users can compare packaging placed on the market, volumes collected for recycling and material actually recycled. Each figure also includes its sources and a confidence level. Corporate partners include Amcor and Colgate-Palmolive, while the project's steering committee includes the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WWF, CDP and WRAP.

The platform provides a more detailed basis for evaluating recycling performance across different markets and packaging formats. For recyclers, packaging producers and investors, identifying where material is lost during collection and sorting can help highlight infrastructure gaps and potential areas for investment. In 2027, the platform plans to expand its coverage to additional markets, including U.S. state-level data, as well as paper and cardboard packaging.

Source: Systemiq

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Improving plastic packaging recycling requires more than designing materials to be recyclable; effective collection, sorting and processing systems must also be available in each market. More consistent data can help identify where recovery infrastructure is falling short and guide investment toward packaging formats and regions with the greatest need.