New data confirm a rapid slowdown in Europe’s transition to a circular plastics economy, triggered by the competitiveness crisis facing the European plastics system.

With global circular plastics production accelerating, Europe’s annual growth in circular production has declined sharply from 13.6% in 2022 to only 1.2% in 2024.

New data on trade also highlight the significant dependence of Europe’s plastics transition on external value chains, with 19% of converter demand for circular plastics met through imports and 12.4% of Europe’s collected waste recycled in other regions.

These trends undermine Europe’s climate ambitions and strategic autonomy.

Urgent action is needed at EU and national levels to restore industry’s competitiveness and unlock investment in circular plastics at scale.