RECYCLING IN EUROPE

The EU is a trendsetter and a strong advocate for environmental protection worldwide. It has one of the most ambitious waste legislation in the world.
Explore the timeline below to learn more about plastic recycling in Europe.

Looking ahead

Clean Industrial Deal

2024 - 2029

Green Claims Directive

Microplastics Regulation

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

2024

Revision of the industrial emissions directive

Revised Regulation on Waste Shipment

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

2023

Carbon border adjustment mechanism

New batteries regulation

Revision of the EU Emissions Trade System

2022

NEW REGULATION ON FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS

2021

Single-use plastics directive

Implementation
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS DIRECTIVE

Green Taxonomy

Rules on supporting sustainable & green financing

2020

Green Taxonomy

NEW CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE

Sets goal for all packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2030
NEW CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE

2019

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS DIRECTIVE

Sets target for plastic beverage bottles: 90% collection by 2029 and 30% mandatory recycled content by 2030

CIRCULAR PLASTICS ALLIANCE

Launched to aid industry in accelerating the creation of EU market for recycled plastics via the uptake of 10 Mt by 2025

EU GREEN DEAL

Sets an objective to make Europe’s economy greener

2018

CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE

Fixing a new target of 55% recycling for plastic packaging waste by 2030

A EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR PLASTICS IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Holistic approach to improve economics and quality of plastics recycling & curbing marine litter

2013

GREEN PAPER ON A EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON PLASTIC WASTE IN THE ENVIRONMENT

2011

ROADMAP TO A RESOURCE EFFICIENT EUROPE

ROADMAP TO A RESOURCE EFFICIENT EUROPE

1994

PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE DIRECTIVE

PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE DIRECTIVE

1975

WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

Future of Plastics Recycling