Plastic packaging does more than keep our food fresh on the shelves. Even though the world’s plastic production reached 388 million tons in 2019 and the use of plastic has increased rapidly since 1960, it has become an essential part of our everyday life. In everything including communications, construction, medicine, food and beverage and the farming industry, it has become invaluable due to its unique combination of light weight, durability, protective and other intrinsic properties.
Did you know?
400 million tonnes of plastic was produced globally in 2022, of which Europe uses 59 million tonnes annually.
Only 4-5% of the annual oil production in the world is used to produce plastic.
EU: s goal: 50% of all plastic packaging waste will be recycled by 2025.
By 2025 10 million tonnes of recycled plastic will be used to create new products in Europe.
European plastic strategy: for all of the EU’s plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable cost-effectively by 2030.
Source: Plastic Europe, Plastic – The Facts 2023
Plastic is mainly a bi-product of various fossil fuels and its production requires low levels of energy and water. Plastic packaging is more flexible and lighter than other alternatives such as glass or cardboard and reduces transportation costs and the carbon footprint attributed to it.
