New Recycling Record for Plastic Packaging: Recycling Rate Reaches 68.9%
January 22, 2025The recycling rate for plastic packaging collected through Germany’s “Yellow Bag” system has reached a new milestone. According to a joint announcement by the Central Packaging Registry (ZSVR) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), the material recycling rate climbed to 68.9% in 2023. This marks a significant upward trend since the introduction of the Packaging Act in 2018, with the rate increasing by nearly 27 percentage points over the past five years.
“It’s not just the absolute recycling rate that is impressive,” summarized Dr. Isabell Schmidt, Managing Director for Circular Economy at the German Association for Plastics Packaging (IK). “What is remarkable is that the legally mandated recycling target of 63% was again significantly exceeded. This development demonstrates that the industry is not only meeting regulatory requirements but that a well-established market for recycled plastic materials from packaging has emerged. This represents a major leap forward for the circular economy.”
Four Out of Five Consumer Plastic Packages Are Highly Recyclable
Dr. Isabell Schmidt further highlighted the importance of design improvements for recycling compatibility, a crucial element of a functioning circular economy. Currently, four out of five consumer plastic packages in Germany are designed to be highly recyclable, enabling them to replace virgin plastics after processing. Despite a decline in the overall volume of packaging, demand for recycled materials in the packaging sector continues to grow. This underscores the pivotal role of the plastics packaging industry as a stable market for recycled materials, even during times of economic uncertainty.
“Our industry has been proactive,” Dr. Schmidt explained. “Eighty percent of plastics recycled in Germany already come from packaging. Now, other industries, such as construction and automotive, must follow suit if they want to use recycled materials on a larger scale. The packaging industry is set to claim recycled materials for its own future use.”
This record-breaking achievement highlights Germany’s progress in advancing the circular economy and recognizing plastic packaging as a valuable resource in recycling processes.
