In 2024, the world generated 418 million tonnes of packaging waste
134 million tonnes of packaging materials disposed of through landfilling, incineration, or environmental leaking
The theme emerging in the packaging industry is the urgent, growing disparity between the volume of packaging waste generated and the current global capacity to manage it sustainably. This situation requires a profound and fast transition towards a circular economy model for packaging, driven by regulatory pressures, technological innovation, shifting consumer demands, and evolving economic landscapes.
This report aims to provide an understanding of the wide-ranging impact of waste generation and recycling on the packaging industry. This includes a thorough evaluation of policy effectiveness, a focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, the role of ongoing technological advancements in both recycling processes and disposal methods, the impact of consumer behaviour, the availability and adequacy of existing infrastructure, the economic viability of recycling initiatives, and the influence of packaging design on its end-of-life management.
Key Questions:
How is urbanization driving waste rates?
What technological advancements are being made to optimise packaging for recycling?
How are countries attempting to manage packaging to reduce waste, without reducing volume of packaging?
Where are the most prominent areas in the supply chain to observe change in recycling rates?
This report is essential to:
Packaging raw material suppliers
Packaging converters and manufacturers
Retailers and brand owners
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction and methodology
Introduction and objective
Report Scope, market segmentation and assumptions
Packaging Materials
Waste recycling methods
Waste disposal methods
Geographic markets
Methodology
Glossary and definitions
Key drivers and trends in the waste and recycling industry
Introduction
Global scale and trends
Waste generation
Recycling and disposal
Primary drivers of increased waste generation
Economic expansion and shifting consumption
The e-commerce effect
Dominance of single-use models
Material selection dynamics (shift towards plastics)
Demographic factors: population and urbanization
Inadequacies in waste prevention policies and implementation
Regulations on packaging waste and recycling
Key technological developments
Introduction
Packaging materials
Board, molded pulp, and paper
Flexible plastics
Rigid plastics
Glass
Metals
Recycling methods
Repulped
Mechanically recycled
Chemically recycled
Compostable
Disposal methods
Incineration
Landfill
Mismanaged waste (environmental leakage)
Impact of waste and recycling on the packaging supply chain