Total plastics consumption by end-users in the EU+3

Plastics consumption includes all packaging, plastic products, parts embedded in larger products and synthetic textiles put on the market for both private and industrial end-users

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Data on plastics consumption by end-users in the EU27+3 shows a slight decrease from 58.8 million tonnes in 2018 to 56.5 million tonnes in 2020, which is equivalent of 107 kg/capita and year. However, this should not be regarded as a trend yet due to the lack of data for a longer period and is biased by the specificity of the year 2020. [1][2] This decrease is due to a slow-down in economic activity in Europe during the COVID19 pandemic and would not correlate with plastic circularity.

For 2020, data shows for what purposes plastics is used. Most is used for packaging, followed by building and construction; automotives; electoral and electronic appliances; houseware, leisure and sports; agriculture, farming and gardening; and textiles.

A major part of the plastic placed on the market for end-users becomes waste after a short life span. In 2020 for example, around 30 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste were collected in EU27+3.[3]

[1] Plastics Europe. 2022. The Circular Economy for Plastics

[2] Plastics Europe. 2020. The Circular Economy for plastics. A European Overview

[3] Plastics Europe. 2022. Plastics the facts

Total consumption of plastics by end-users includes all plastic packaging, plastic products, parts embedded in larger products as well as synthetic textiles put on the market in the EU27+3 for both private and industrial end-users.

When assessing plastics circularity, it is important to measure total plastics consumption because consumption of fossil-based virgin plastic should be decreased to achieve circularity. In a circular economy all materials, including plastics, should be used in the most efficient way possible. Several EU strategies and directives aim, among others, to limit plastic consumption. A few examples include EU Plastics Strategy, Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, Single-Use Plastics Directive.

Definition

Metric shows amounts of plastics consumed in the EU27 + Norway, Switzerland, and the UK per type of use.

Methodology

Data on plastics put on market (which does not include textiles) from Plastics Europe

Statistical and market data supported by stakeholder interviews
Modelling/extrapolation

Statistical data on textiles made of plastics from Eurostat

Metadata

Source:

2018: The Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Overview • Plastics Europe

2020: PlasticsEurope-CircularityReport-2022_2804-Light.pdf

For synthetic textiles: Source: Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/page/DS-056120__custom_6306626; synthetic fibres and yarns are included under product groups 13.10 and 20.60 in Prodcom

Unit: million tonnes

Temporal coverage: 2018 and 2020

Geographic coverage: EU 27+3 (Norway, Switzerland, and the UK)

Additional reading

· Plastics Europe. 2022. The Circular Economy for Plastics

· Plastics Europe. 2020. The Circular Economy for plastics. A European Overview

· Plastics Europe. 2022. Plastics the facts