Record increase in packaging waste in the EU

Waste from packaging, including from food deliveries and other online purchases, has reached a record high in the European Union, the EU's statistics agency Eurostat said on Thursday.

In 2021, every person living in the EU generated on average 188.7 kilograms of packaging waste, an increase of 10.8 kg per person compared to the previous year, and up by almost 32 kg since 2011.

Of the 84 million tons of packaging waste generated in the EU in 2021, 40% were cardboard and paper, 19% plastic, 18.5% glass, 17% wood and 5% metal.

Plastic packaging waste increased by 27% in the 10 years from 2011 until 2021, while recycling rates for plastic packages increased by 38%, Eurostat said.

In 2021, Slovenia (50.0%), Belgium (49.2%) and the Netherlands (48.9%) had the highest recycling rates for plastic packaging waste. Germany ranked fourth with 48.4%.

Malta (20.5%), France (23.1%) and Sweden (23.8%), on the contrary, recycled the lowest share of plastic waste generated in those countries.