4.7 Recycling plastics saves resources

The development of plastic materials has exploded in the second half of the 20th century. Production of plastic materials in the world rose from less than 5 million tons in the 1950s to some 80 million tons in 1997. Consumption of plastics in Western Europe was about 28 million tons in 1997 (35 per cent of the global production).

Plastic packaging waste represents about 60 per cent of the total plastic waste.

The distribution and industry sectors generate some 2.6 million tons out of the 9.8 million tons of post-user packaging waste produced in Western Europe. Household waste represents more than 70 per cent of the overall plastic packaging waste.

Source: European Directive on packaging and packaging waste