PlasticsEurope/BPF Press Release: Latest Plastics Industry Data Published – Industry Recovering Slowly

PlasticsEurope has presented its most recent economic data for the global plastics industry at a press luncheon ‘Facts and Figures UK’ on 14th May 2013 in London. The figures provide a statistical profile of the production, trade and use of plastics raw materials globally, across the 27 European Union Member States and, country by country, it highlights industry trends.

These first estimates of the 2012 data show that despite continuous growth for more than 50 years, global plastics production fell at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 during the economic crisis. However over the last three years there has been some positive development which has led to a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 8.7% on a worldwide scale.

As for Europe, estimated demand for plastics materials in the EU 27 countries was 45.5 million tonnes in 2012, 3.2% lower than in 2011; packaging applications accounted for the largest proportion at 40.2% with building and construction at 20.8% and automotive at 8%. 

“Despite global slow recovery, the plastics industry is optimistic that Europe remains a core centre of its activities, which is why it invests heavily in R&D to guarantee innovation and economic growth in the European Union” says Kim Christiansen, PlasticsEurope, Regional Director North.

More specifically in the UK, demand for plastics materials stood at 3.7 million tonnes in 2012 an increase of 1.2% over 2011. Packaging took a 44.3% share of this, building and construction 19.2% and automotive 5.9%.

The latest data on waste management, published in 2012, but referring to 2011 results, illustrates continuing progress in recovery. The overall recovery rate for used plastics embracing both recycling and energy recovery in the EU 27 was 59.6%, for the UK the rate had increased to 27.3%. For recycling specifically the average European rate was 25.1%, in the UK plastics recycling was 19.9%.

PlasticsEurope is working with the BPF and PAFA in the Plastics 2020 Challenge initiative to exploit to the maximum all recovery options for used plastics. In addition to seeking to advance plastics packaging recycling to higher levels as a priority Plastics 2020 sees much greater scope for energy from waste schemes to deal with the unrecyclable fractions of used plastics.

The 2012 waste management data from 2012, will be presented at the K-Fair in October 2013.

ENDS

Press Contact: PlasticsEurope AISBL, Kim Christiansen, Regional Director North, Phone: +44 (0) 7432 297615 Email: [email protected]

Notes to Editor:

PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU27 member states plus Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey.

The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. More than 1.45 million people are working in about 59.000 companies to create a turnover in excess of 300 billion € per year.

The plastics industry includes polymer producers - represented by PlasticsEurope, converters - represented by EuPC and machine manufacturers - represented by EUROMAP. For further info see the web links: www.plasticseurope.org , www.plasticsconverters.eu , www.euromap.org .