The European Union generated 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2023, equivalent to 177.8 kilograms per person, according to new data published by Eurostat. While this represents a slight reduction of 8.7 kg per capita compared with 2022, the amount remains 21.2 kg higher than a decade ago.
Paper and cardboard accounted for the largest share of packaging waste at 40.4%, followed by plastic (19.8%), glass (18.8%), wood (15.8%), and metal (4.9%). Other packaging materials made up just 0.2% of the total.
Each EU resident generated an average of 35.3 kilograms of plastic packaging waste last year, of which 14.8 kg were recycled. Although the volume of plastic packaging waste fell by 1.0 kg compared with 2022, recycling increased marginally by 0.1 kg per capita. Over the past decade, plastic packaging waste per person has risen by 6.4 kg, while recycling volumes have increased by 3.8 kg.
Overall, the EU recycled 42.1% of all plastic packaging waste in 2023 — an improvement from the 38.2% rate recorded in 2013. Belgium achieved the highest recycling rate at 59.5%, 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%) recorded the lowest recycling rates. Malta’s recycling of plastic packing waste remained below the EU’s average at 35.6%.
The Eurostat findings highlight ongoing challenges for EU member states in managing and reducing packaging waste, despite modest progress in recycling efforts over the past decade.
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