Author: Packaging Europe
A major increase in PET imports threatens the EU’s capability of improving plastic waste management and its competitiveness in the industry, Plastics Recyclers Europe claims – responding with a call for fair policy covering imported plastics. EU trade data claims that India, China, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, and Vietnam were amongst the biggest exporters of a total 1.9Mt of PET imports between 2021 and 2022. Nearly 30% of the total demand for PET in Europe in 2022 was made up of imports, cites Plastics Recyclers Europe – a rise from the 23% reported in 2020. It is suggested that the increase could stem from growing demand for rPET in the EU, with prices rising within the European continent in anticipation of its target to implement 25% recycled content into beverage bottles by 2025.