Europe Plastic Recycling Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polystyrene, and Others), By Source (Plastic Bottles, Plastic Films, Polymer Foam), By End User (Building & Construction, Packaging, Electrical & Electronics, Textiles, Automotive and Others), and Europe Plastic Recycling Market Insights, Industry Trends, Forecast to 2035.

Europe Plastic Recycling Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The Europe Plastic Recycling Market Size Was Estimated at 10.58 Million Tonnes in 2024
• The Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of Around 5.68% from 2025 to 2035
• The Europe Plastic Recycling Market Size is Expected to Reach 19.42 Million Tonnes by 2035

According to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting, the Europe Plastic Recycling Market size is anticipated to reach 19.42 million tonnes by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 5.68% from 2025 to 2035. The market is driven by the growing environmental awareness among customers and organizations, rigid regulations encouraging recycling, rising demand for sustainable packaging, and a switch towards circular economy practices.

Market Overview

The European recycled plastics market is referred to as companies use sustainable packaging methods, governments create strict environmental rules, and businesses implement extended producer responsibility programs. The government establishes recycling programs while providing financial rewards to organizations that implement recycling programs to decrease litter production and create extra space in landfills. The European recycled plastics market functions as an essential element that enables the region to transition into a circular economy through its combination of strict regulatory measures and substantial infrastructure development.

The Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe facility in Lavera, southern France, received its initial shipment of pyrolysis oil in June 2025. The company will use this new feedstock created from recycled plastic waste to produce recycled polymers, which help customers meet European Union regulations on food contact materials, medical packaging and sensitive plastic packaging that requires a minimum of 10% recycled content by 2030.

The EU Commission initiates its plastics pilot program in January 2026. The project aims to make packaging the primary market for European PVC recycling operations. The European Commission has revealed its initial pilot projects, which will help Europe achieve its circular economy goals through their implementation in the plastics industry. Plastic Energy has developed commercial operations for 'char', it produces through its chemical recycling method, with production resulting in 89% lower carbon emissions.

Report Coverage

This research report categorises the European plastic recycling market based on various segments and regions, and forecasts revenue growth and analyses trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the Europe plastic recycling market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies, such as expansion, product launch, development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the Europe plastic recycling market.

Driving Factors

The plastic recycling market in Europe is driven by the increasing funding for bottle-to-bottle recycling facilities has improved processing capabilities, enabling producers to fulfil their required recycled content obligations. The European recycled plastics market shows its largest application segment in packaging because of strict recycled content requirements and rising customer demand for environmentally friendly products.

Restraining Factors

The plastic recycling market in Europe is restrained by the waste management system, which wastes resources because the EU lacks standardized end-of-waste criteria have historically increased administrative costs that reach USD 120 million per year for the industry. The high energy and electricity prices in Europe make it more expensive to recycle materials than to produce new plastic from raw materials.

Market Segmentation

The Europe plastic recycling market share is categorised into product, source, and end user.

• The polyethylene segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. 

The Europe plastic recycling market is segmented by product into polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and others. Among these, the polyethylene segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is driven by the material possessing four key attributes, which include being lightweight and transparent and having strong resistance to all forms of microorganisms and liquids. The material demonstrates resistance to both heat and abrasion while maintaining its flexible properties and complete recyclability. The product serves as an optimal packaging solution for food and beverage companies because it meets their needs for packaging laundry detergents, milk cartons, cutting boards, garbage bins and multiple other products.

• The plastic bottles segment dominated the market in 2024 and is projected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.  

Based on source, the Europe plastic recycling market is segmented into plastic bottles, plastic films, polymer foam. Among these, the plastic bottles segment dominated the market in 2024 and is projected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. The segmental growth is driven by the food and beverage sector, which uses plastic containers because current technologies and heat-resistant PET bottles provide better options for their operations. The industry primarily uses PET bottles, which serve as the most common packaging material for beverages, cosmetics, detergents and sanitary products.

• The packaging segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. 

The Europe plastic recycling market is segmented by end user into building & construction, packaging, electrical & electronics, textiles, automotive and others. Among these, the packaging segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is driven by the rising European demand for the product, which stems from its user-friendly design, its affordable prices and its customizable product features. The EU generated approximately 188.7 kilograms of packaging waste per individual in 2021. The country-specific waste production showed a range of results because Croatia generated 73.8 kilograms per person, while Ireland produced 246.1 kilograms per person.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the Europe plastic recycling market, along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborate analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

List of Key Companies                                                                                                                     

• Veolia
• Suez SA
• LyondellBasell
• Borealis AG
• MBA Polymers
• Morssinkhof Rymoplast
• Indorama Ventures
• TotalEnergies
• Berry Global Inc.
• Plastic Energy
• Others

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at the Europe, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the Europe plastic recycling market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Europe Plastic Recycling Market, By Product

• Polyethylene
• Polyethylene Terephthalate
• Polypropylene
• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Polystyrene
• Others

Europe Plastic Recycling Market, By Source

• Plastic Bottles
• Plastic Films
• Polymer Foam

Europe Plastic Recycling Market, By End User

• Building & Construction
• Packaging
• Electrical & Electronics
• Textiles
• Automotive
• Others