First Plastic Recycling Technologies Mapping in Europe released by PRE

Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) officially launched the first comprehensive mapping of plastics recycling technologies across Europe. This landmark publication marks a milestone for the industry by providing data and an evidence-driven overview of the current state of European plastic recycling, outlining both existing capabilities and critical gaps. It acts as a strategic resource for the plastic value chain and stakeholders such as brand owners, converters, and policymakers, supporting informed action at every level.

“This compendium shows how far we have come in our technological developments, but also where further innovation and investments are needed to keep Europe at the forefront of the transition to plastics circularity,” said Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe.

The report examines mechanical, dissolution, and chemical recycling across key waste streams, including packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, end-of-life vehicles, and building and construction. By tracing the journey of plastic waste from collection and sorting to recycling, it delivers a broad and holistic examination of the entire recycling process. A unique feature of the report is its traffic light system, which categorises recycling technologies according to their level of industrial uptake from emerging to widely adopted.

The findings show that mechanical recycling remains the most established and widely applied technology across Europe. Dissolution recycling is still emerging as an industrial practice, with most initiatives at pilot or early commercial stages, while chemical recycling is also progressing toward wider deployment. Crucially, the report underscores efficient sorting as a key driver of improving overall recycling performance.

Built on extensive interviews, data collection, site visits, and rigorous analysis of literature and patents, the report stands as a reliable and up-to-date industry reference – one of its kind in Europe. It is indispensable in guiding informed decision-making to improve recyclability, strengthen infrastructure, and reduce material losses. Moreover, the report highlights key technological advancements across Europe and emphasises the critical role of each step in achieving maximum efficiency and high-quality outputs.

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^{Plastics Recyclers Europe is an organisation representing the voice of European plastics recyclers, who reprocess plastic waste into high-quality material destined for the production of new articles. Recyclers are important facilitators of the circularity of plastics and the transition towards a circular economy. The plastics recycling industry in Europe represents over €8.6 billion in turnover, 13.5 million tonnes of installed recycling capacity, around 850 recycling facilities, and around 30.000 employees. ​}

^{Contact: communication@plasticsrecyclers.eu; www.plasticsrecyclers.eu}