Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: How much packaging waste do EU citizens produce?

More than 79 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU in 2023, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.

While this marks a reduction of 8.7kg per capita compared with 2022, the figure remains 21.2kg higher than in 2013.

In 26 EU countries, paper and cardboard made up the largest share of the total packaging waste, with 14 of these countries racking up a share of more than 40% of the total.

There were also substantial amounts of plastic packaging waste, at 15.8 million tonnes (19.8% of the total), glass at 15 million tonnes (18.8%), and wood at 12.6 million tonnes (15.8%).

The rest of the packaging waste was made up of 3.9 million tonnes of metal (4.9%) and 0.2 million tonnes of other materials (0.2%).

Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Luxembourg generated more than 200kg of packaging waste per inhabitant.

Despite their high waste generation, most of these countries also recycled the largest amounts of packaging waste per inhabitant in the EU.

In 2023, Italy recycled the highest amount of packaging waste, with 162.2kg per inhabitant, followed by Germany with 149.3kg and Luxembourg with 132.4kg.

Ireland recycled 131.6 kg per inhabitant.

By contrast, Croatia (42.3kg), Romania (48.5kg), and Bulgaria (47.2kg) were the EU countries recycling the lowest amounts of packaging waste per inhabitant.

Bulgaria and Croatia also generated the least packaging waste per inhabitant among the EU countries, with less than 100kg and 98.6kg of packaging waste, respectively.

EU recycling targets on track

The EU has set out that a minimum of 70% of all packaging waste be recycled by 2030.

However, targets vary according to the material in question and its weight.

For paper and cardboard, the EU set out a minimum of 85%, while 75% was established for glass, 55% for plastics, 80% for ferrous (or iron-based) metals, 60% for aluminium and 30% for wood.

Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Czechia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain have already met the 2030 overall recycling target for packaging waste.

A further 13 countries were closing in on the 70% target with recycling rates above 60%.

At the other end of the scale, Romania, Hungary, Malta, and Greece reported total packaging recycling rates of less than 50% in 2023.