Europe’s Packaging Waste Problem

What packaging waste is generated?

At 32.2 million tonnes in 2023, paper and cardboard is the largest component of total packaging waste by far. Most paper and cardboard packaging used for food and drinks is not recyclable because it contains a plastic or grease-barrier coating (like PFAS). Once contaminated with food, it typically ends up in incineration or landfill.

After the 2021 single-use plastic bans, the use of single-use paper and cardboard has grown significantly, replacing plastic items with some materials that still end up as non-recycled waste.

There were also significant amounts of other packaging materials: plastic accounted for 15.8 million tonnes (19.8%), glass for 15.0 million tonnes (18.8%), and wood for 12.6 million tonnes (15.8%).

How much is recycled?

In 2023, the EU recycled 67.5% of its packaging waste, getting close to the 2030 target of 70%. Several countries have already met or passed this goal, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Czechia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain. Others, like Germany, France, Estonia, and Sweden, are just a few points away.

But when it comes to plastic packaging, progress is slower. Only Belgium (59.5%) and Latvia (59.2%) have already reached the EU’s 55% recycling goal for 2030. Many others — such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland — still recycle less than 30% of their plastic packaging.

What about plastic bags?

In 2023, people in the EU used an average of 65 lightweight plastic carrier bags (LPCBs) per person, still far above the EU’s 2025 target of fewer than 40 bags per person. This marks only a small drop from 67 bags in 2022, but a clear decline from 95 bags in 2018.

However, results vary widely between countries. Belgium had the lowest use at just 4 bags per person, followed by Poland (7), Portugal and Austria (14), Sweden (22), and Denmark (23) — all already below the EU target. In contrast, Latvia topped the list with 209 bags per person, and both Lithuania (196) and Czechia (185) also reported very high consumption.

And now let’s go to Denmark — Aarhus!

In the Danish city of Aarhus, an innovative reuse system is changing how take-away coffee is served. Since 2024, the city has been testing a deposit-return scheme where every reusable cup includes a 5-crown (€0.70) deposit. When the cup is returned, the deposit is refunded — simple, quick and effective.

In just one year, more than 735,000 cups were collected, saving 14 tonnes of plastic from incineration or landfill. During local events, return rates reached 88%, and some cups were used over 40 times before being recycled.

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Sources:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/01/11/people-are-paid-to-return-coffee-cups-in-this-danish-city-does-it-work

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