According to the latest figures published by Eurostat, the European Union generated 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2023, equivalent to 177.8 kilograms per inhabitant. While this marks a modest decline of 8.7 kilograms per capita compared with 2022, the overall figure remains 21.2 kilograms higher than a decade ago, underscoring the EU’s ongoing struggle to curb packaging waste despite policy measures aimed at reduction and recycling.
Paper and cardboard accounted for the largest share of packaging waste at 40.4 per cent, followed by plastic (19.8 %), glass (18.8%), wood (15.8 %), and metal (4.9 %). Other packaging materials made up the remaining fraction.
Each EU resident generated an average of 35.3 kilograms of plastic packaging waste in 2023, of which only 14.8 kilograms were recycled. While plastic waste generation fell slightly by 1 kilogram compared with the previous year, the amount recycled increased by a marginal 0.1 kilogram, indicating slow but steady progress. Over the last decade, however, plastic packaging waste per capita has risen by 6.4 kilograms, while recycling has improved by 3.8 kilograms.
Overall, 42.1 % of plastic packaging waste was recycled across the EU in 2023 – a slight improvement from the 38.2 % recycling rate recorded in 2013. Belgium led the bloc with a 59.5 % recycling rate, followed closely by Latvia (59.2 %) and Slovakia (54.1 %). At the other end of the spectrum, Hungary (23.0 %), France (25.7 %), and Austria (26.9 %) registered the lowest recycling performance.
Eurostat attributed some fluctuations in recent data to methodological changes introduced in 2020, including a harmonised calculation point for recycling and stricter accounting for composite packaging materials. These adjustments led to a temporary 3.4 % decrease in the EU’s recycling rate at the time.
Packaging waste figures encompass materials generated by households, businesses, and government entities, with per capita rates calculated based on the average resident population of each member state.
The report highlights that, despite gradual improvements in recycling, the EU’s broader challenge remains reducing the overall generation of packaging waste, particularly plastics. A key focus of ongoing policy discussions under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.
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