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FINAL Plastics The Facts 2013 Published October2013 PDF
FINAL Plastics The Facts 2013 Published October2013 PDF
The data presented in this report was collected by PlasticsEurope (the Association of Plastics
Manufacturers in Europe), EuPC (the European Plastics Converters), Plastics Recyclers Europe and
EPRO (the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations). PlasticsEuropes
Market Research and Statistics Group (PEMRG) provided input on the production of and demand for
plastics raw materials. Consultic Marketing & Industrieberatung GmbH helped assess waste
generation and recovery data. Official statistics from European or national authorities and waste
management organisations have been used for recovery and trade data, where available.
Research or expertise from consultants completed gaps.
Figures cannot always be directly compared with those of previous years due to changes in estimates.
Some estimates from previous years have been revised in order to track progress, e.g. for use and
recovery of plastics across Europe over the past decade.
All figures and graphs in this report show data for EU-27 plus Norway and Switzerland, which is referred
to as Europe for the purposes of abbreviation other country groups are explicitly listed.
A success story
A success story
1850
Celluloid
Versatile and highly inflammable
material made of cellulose which
was used for the production of
the first films but also jewellery.
1970
1st plastic
Offering lightweight,
high shock absorption and bumpers
esthetic performance.
1939
Nylon
1907
Bakelite
Courtesy of DuPont
2013
Plastic prostheses
2
Introduction
Plastics the Facts is an analysis of the latest data
related to the production, demand and waste
management of plastics materials.
It provides the latest business information on
production and demand, trade, recovery as well as
employment and turnover in the plastics industry.
In short, this report gives an insight into the industrys contribution to European economic growth and
prosperity throughout the life cycle of the material.
In 2012, the plastics industry including plastics
producers, plastics converters and the plastics
machinery accounted for an estimated 1.4 million
jobs in the European Unions 27 Member States and
had a combined turnover of above 300 billion euro.
With more than 62,000 companies in operation in
the EU, plastics not only enable modern lifestyles,
the material also contributes to research and
innovation, to higher standards of living and the
overall welfare of the European citizens.
In the second half of the 20th century, plastics
became one of the most universally-used and multipurpose materials in the global economy. Today,
plastics are utilised in more and more applications
and they have become essential to our modern
economy. The plastics industry has benefited from
Plastics
and growth
Plastics
and growth
20.3 bn
An industry generating
about 26.6 billion euro for
public finance and welfare.
~ 26.6 bn
6.3 bn
Corporate tax
bn
N of employees
250
1,400
1,263.4
201.8
200
1,200
1,000
150
800
86.7
400
200
Plastics producing
Plastics converting
11
20
10
20
20
09
08
20
6
20
0
Sales (bn )
07
year
2
20
1
11
20
0
20
1
09
20
8
20
0
07
20
6
20
0
Plastics producing
Plastics converting
0
20
year
138.6
50
20
1
100
Plastics
market data
Plastics
market data
1976
1989
2002
2009
2010
2011
2012
1,7
47
99
204
250
270
280
288
0,35
19,8
27,4
56,1
55
57
58
57
Mtonne
300
250
200
150
WORLD
PLASTICS
PRODUCTION
100
50
EUROPEAN
PLASTICS
PRODUCTION
year
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
China
23.9%
~241 Mtonne
Japan
4.9%
Middle East,
Africa
7.2%
NAFTA
19.9%
Latin America
4.9%
CIS
3%
Europe (EU-27+2)
20.4%
11
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Norway
Switzerland
00
,0
12
00
,0
11
0
10
,0
0
00
9,
0
0
8,
00
0
7,0
0
0
00
6,
0
5,
00
0
4,
00
3,
00
0
00
2,
00
1,0
k tonne
2012
2011
39.4%
45.9
Mtonne
22.4%
20.3%
8.2%
5.5%
Packaging
Automotive
Electrical &
Electronics
4.2%
13
Different plastics
for different needs
PVC boots
PE-LD,
PE-LLD
PE-HD
containers
PVC
PE-HD caps
PE-HD
PET bottles
PET
14
PP car bumper
PS plastic cup
Office/school PP flowerpot
PP folder
PP
PUR sponge
PS glasses frame
PS, PS-E
PUR
insulation
panels
PUR
Others
ABS brick
PTFE (Teflon)
frying pan
Plastic vs. plastic
There are various types of plastics featuring different properties. The international recycling codes
(ranging from 1 to 7) which are featured on most plastic products are meant to make (unmixed) separation easy.
15
00
10
,0
00
9,
0
00
8,
0
00
7,0
0
00
6,
5,
00
0
00
4,
00
0
3,
00
0
2,
1,0
00
k tonne
2012
2011
Packaging
39.4%
Building &
Construction
20.3%
Automotive
8.2%
Electrical &
Electronic
5.5%
26.6%
PU
R
Ot
h
En er
g.
PC
S
PA
M
A
PM
SA
N
AS
A,
PE
S,
AB
PV
C
E
PS
-
PS
PP
D
PE
-H
PE
-L
D,
P
EL
LD
Others
17
+1,0
+0,9
+0,8
+0,7
+0,6
+0,5
+0,4
+0,3
+0,2
+0,1
+0,0
year
2005
2006
2007
2008
Source: Eurostat
2009
2010
2011
2012
2012 data
Plastics producing sector:
Exports 15.87 Mtonne
Imports 7.55 Mtonne
19
Converter
demand
EU-27
45.9 Mtonne
40% short
service life
EXPORT
60% long
service life
57 Mtonne
EXPORT
Consumer
demand
Plastics
production
EU-27
EXPORT
Recycling
6.6 Mtonne
8.9 Mtonne
26.3%
35.6%
Recovery
61.9%
Post-consumer
plastics waste
25.2 Mtonne
Disposal
g
38.1%
IMPORT
IMPORT
22
IMPORT
15.6 Mtonne
9.6 Mtonne
26.3% Recycling
35.6% Energy recovery
23
Mtonne
15
Landfill
Energy
recovery
WEGSNIJDEN
10
Recycling
5
year
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Figure 12: Total plastics waste recycling and recovery 2006 2012
Source: Consultic
24
2011
2012
25
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Source: Consultic
70%
80%
90%
100%
Recycling rate
Energy recovery rate
Disposal rate
27
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Comparison of
rates 2012 vs. 2006
50%
Energy
recovery rate
Recycling rate
Plastic packaging has the highest recycling and energy recovery rate
Austria
Luxembourg
Germany
Switzerland
Denmark
Sweden
Belgium
Netherlands
Norway
Finland
Estonia
Italy
Czech Republic
Slovenia
Slovakia
France
Poland
Ireland
Romania
Hungary
Spain
Portugal
Latvia
Bulgaria
Lithuania
UK
Greece
Cyprus
Malta
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Recycling rate
29
16
Development since 2005
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2005
2010
2012
2020
2030
2037
Potential saving of 80 million tonnes of plastic waste equal to 1 billion barrels of oil
or 70 billion euro.
30
Recycling and energy recovery are both complementary and necessary to achieve the zero plastics to
landfill by 2020 goal.
Since recycling may not always be the most
sustainable option for plastics, energy
recovery should remain a viable option
to realise the full potential of the diverted
waste which to generate electricity
and heat.
Therefore, the industry is calling for measures
to avoid the landfilling of recyclable and high
calorific waste.
Snapshot
and outlook
Index
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
year
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Plastics in primary forms
34
Plastics machinery
Index
120
110
100
90
80
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Production index
Forecast
35
Glossary of terms
ABS
ASA
bn
CIS
CO2
Consultic
ECEBD
EU
EuPC
EPR
EPRO
ETP
E&E
GDP
k tonne
Kg
LCD
Mtonne
NAFTA
NGOs
36
PA
PC
PE
PE-HD
PE-LD
PE-LLD
PE-MD
PEMRG
PET
PUR
PMMA
PP
PRF
PS
PS-E
PVC
SAN
UK
UN
VCI
Polyamide
Polycarbonate
Polyethylene
Polyethylene, high density
Polyethylene, low density
Polyethylene, linear low density
Polyethylene, medium density
PlasticsEurope Market Research Group
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polyurethane
Polymethyl methacrylate
Polypropylene
Plastics Recovery Facilities
Polystyrene
Polystyrene, expandable
Polyvinyl chloride
Styrene-acrylonitrile
United Kingdom
United Nations
Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V.
PlasticsEurope
PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan
and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies,
producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
European Plastics Converters (EuPC)
EuPC is the professional representative body of plastics converters in Europe. Its activities cover all sectors of the plastics
converting industry, including recycling. Its main objective is to defend and promote the European plastics converting industries
interests by:
Voicing industry opinion to European and international institutions,
and NGOs
Maintaining relationships with corresponding European and global organisations
Conducting surveys, studies and research projects covering all areas
of the plastics processing industry
Plastics Recyclers Europe
Plastics Recyclers Europe is the professional representative body of plastics recyclers in Europe. Plastics Recyclers Europe
promotes plastics mechanical recycling and an environment that encourages profitable and sustainable business. It provides a
platform for members who represent 80% of Europes recycling capacity and process over 3 million tonnes of collected plastics
per year.
European Association of Plastics Recycling
and Recovery Organisations (EPRO)
EPRO is the association of national organisations responsible for organising and promoting plastics recycling and recovery in
Europe. EPRO provides a unique forum for leading European specialists in plastics waste management to exchange experience
and ideas, develop integrated plastics packaging and agriculture waste strategies and support technological development.
37
10-2013
Avenue de Cortenbergh 71
1000 Brussels Belgium
Konigin Astridlaan 59
1780 Wemmel Belgium
info@plasticsconverters.eu
www.plasticsconverters.eu
info@epro-plasticsrecycling.org
www.epro-plasticsrecycling.org
Avenue de Cortenbergh 71
1000 Brussels Belgium
info@plasticseurope.org
www.plasticseurope.org
info@plasticsrecyclers.eu
www.plasticsrecyclers.eu