Over 59% of Europe’s PET bottles collected for recycling in 2015

More than half of the PET bottles in Europe were recycled in 2015, says the latest PET Recycle Survey West Europe 2015 Report, compiled by market research and analysis agency PCI Wood Mackenzie. With over 1.8 million metric tons of collected and recycled PET bottles, the 2015 European PET collection and recycling volumes increased by 5% compared to 2014. This means that nearly 59% of all bottles placed in the European market were collected for recycling in 2015, a capture rate increase of 2 percentage points compared to the 57% recorded in 2014.

Brussels-based PET Container Recycling Europe, commonly known as Petcore, the non-profit European trade association representing the complete PET value chain in Europe, expressed satisfaction at the new figures.

“Petcore Europe is pleased to see this continuous growth in the European PET collection and recycling figures,” said Roberto Bertaggia, Petcore Europe President. “In the context of the Circular Economy, it becomes more and more clear that PET recycling takes a crucial role and significantly contributes to achieving the set plastics recycling targets.“

The survey results not only reveal the success of PET collection and recycling in Europe, but also shed light on the challenges confronting the PET industry in the future, as well as the steps that need to be taken to further public awareness of the value of used PET as a resource.

The report also emphasizes the need for an improved collection and sorting system throughout Europe.

“Continuously trying to improve the growth rates in collection demonstrates the need to increase consumer awareness of and involvement in recycling, as well as improvement in collection systems and action by many Member States,” said Helen McGeough, Senior Consultant responsible for the area of recycling and sustainability in PCI Wood Mackenzie.  “The value of these resources needs promoting across society, from consumer to government, to ensure it is treated in the right way throughout its life and beyond.”

This report provides details and analysis of the collection volumes by country in 2015 and projections to 2020.  The report also provides full analysis of the reclamation capacity in the region for 2015 and projected for 2016, as well as the supply demand balance for bottles and the end uses for processed flake. This year the report was supplemented with a market overview for the region and analysis of the pricing trends throughout the year. 

 “Clear bottles accounted for less than 15% of the stream, continuing the downward trend for clear bales in the total share of the available stream and highlighting the need for greater expenditure in sorting activities. The process loss rate is on an upward trend, this rising rate equates to a mounting cost to the industry and backs the calls by the industry for improved collection within the Circular Economy proposals,” McGeough noted.

Referring to the recycling in- and output, the report reveals a strong growth in 2015, with the average operating rate improving over 2014. The trend in the trade of bales also went in favour of the domestic reclamation industry in 2015.

The report concluded that by 2020, more than 2 million metric tons will be collected, with the average collection rate estimated to be upward of 60%.

The complete report is available through PCI Wood Mackenzie. The results will be also discussed during the Petcore Europe Conference 2017 “PET 2020” taking place in Brussels on 1 February 2017.