Plastic is an essential material that is used across all economic sectors due to its versatility and almost 26 million tonnes. of plastic waste is generated in Europe every year. It's safe to say, that it has changed the way we live and is now an integral part of modern life, making many of the things we do today possible. However, with the rise in the need for sustainable solutions, Europe has taken actions that will in the long run change the way we use and produce plastic.
To meet the ever-growing demand for plastic materials, global plastics production has soared in recent decades, and in 2019 hit an annual peak of 368 million metric tons. As a key plastic-producing region, Europe accounted for 16 percent of production in the same year, with only China and North America producing more. The turnover of the European plastic industry showed a slight decrease compared to the previous year, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
1) Increased production of biodegradable plastics
Today, most biodegradable plastics are made of plant-based materials to allow for easy decomposition when disposed of. The market for biodegradable plastics is projected to reach about $12.4B by 2027. Marketing efforts in 2019 continued to bring awareness to the ever-increasing benefits of biodegradable plastics. Since Jan 1, 2021, the EU charges member states €0.80/kg of plastic packaging waste that is not recycled. States are free to choose how to finance the levy. More and more businesses continue to go "green."
2) Raised demand for reinforced plastics
In 2019, reinforced plastics continued to become a reliable substitute for metals. They continue to become more popular in the medical, construction, and military industries. The reinforced plastics market was valued at $228.4 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $295.6 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 4.1% from 2020 to 2027.
3) The growing use of 3D printing (3DP) for production efficiency
The 3DP market continued a rapid growth trajectory, especially for hardware manufacturers. The market material is segmented into three core categories: polymer (being the single largest in 2019), metal (projected to lead over the forecast period), and ceramic. The picture is brighter with European plastics equipment suppliers. Thorsten Kühmann, Secretary-General of EUROMAP, Europe's Association for Plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers, said in March for the K Conference Trend Report that member companies' order books were “filled to the brim". The current year should see expected sales increase by 5 to 10%.
4) Expansion of autonomous production
Known as the "Fourth Industrial Revolution," 2019 saw the rise of smart technology that allowed manufacturers to implement more autonomous machines, increasing productivity and cutting costs. Engineers are able to interact with 3D models in real-time, immersive environments. These new "smart factories" help to reduce error rates and risks.
5) The upturn in the production of recyclable products
This year we're seeing an increase in the use of recyclable products to propel growth. The recycling rates and use of recycled materials in the European Union (EU) are steadily growing. Overall, the EU recycled around 55% of all waste excluding major mineral waste in 2016 (compared with 53% in 2010). This implies that Europe achieved an overall plastic recycling rate of 23.1%. That figure is most likely to rise as the plastics industry makes major investments in recycling technologies of diverse types.
6) Rise of awareness programs
More and more countries are facilitating awareness programs regarding the environmental effects of using plastics. The Zero Waste Europe program involving municipalities, companies, and citizens' groups is encouraging its members to commit to the elimination of residual waste, thereby ending landfill and incineration as waste management practices.
7) Frequent use of enhanced plastic packaging
Manufacturers are leaning on enhanced plastic packaging to minimize quality degradation and contamination. European polymer producers are making major efforts to improve the sustainability of their products. Currently, high costs for energy are compressing industry profits at the exact moment the industry needs additional funds to make decarbonization investments.
The future of plastic in Europe
Throughout and beyond what hopefully will be the temporary crises of COVID and Ukraine, the world remains firmly focused on circularity, plastic pollution, and environmental leakage. . Industry players maintain that plastics will still have a vital role to play in society and that their value can and should be boosted through improved circularity.
Interested to learn more about your company's potential to expand into the plastic European market? Feel free to schedule a meeting with us and we will be more than happy to guide you through your European expansion.
About EuroDev
EuroDev was established in 1996 in the Netherlands with a single, defined purpose to help mid-sized North American companies expand their business in Europe. So far, we have partnered up with over 500 companies and helped them define and meet their European business goals. Services provided include Sales Outsourcing, HR Outsourcing, and Digital Marketing. Services provided include Sales Outsourcing, HR Outsourcing, and Digital Marketing.
Sources: Statista.com, GOV.UK, The Guardian, BBC Worklife.
