PUBLISHER: Grand View Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1728018
PUBLISHER: Grand View Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1728018
The global mechanical & chemical recycling of polyethylene market is anticipated to reach USD 30.14 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.25% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The mechanical and chemical recycling of polyethylene market represents a vital component of the broader plastic waste management and circular economy landscape. Polyethylene, one of the most widely used plastics globally, is integral to diverse sectors ranging from flexible packaging and consumer goods to construction and automotive. As sustainability becomes a core strategic imperative across industries, the recycling of polyethylene-through mechanical means like extrusion and pelletizing, as well as chemical processes such as pyrolysis and solvolysis-is emerging as a high-impact solution to mitigate environmental pressures. These recycling methods help transform post-consumer and post-industrial polyethylene waste into high-quality secondary raw materials, reducing dependency on virgin fossil-based polymers and aligning with international emissions and waste reduction goals.
The market is propelled by the rising global focus on plastic circularity and compliance with environmental regulations. Mechanical recycling is gaining traction due to its relative cost-effectiveness and scalability, particularly in high-volume, low-contamination waste streams such as HDPE bottles and LDPE films. Meanwhile, chemical recycling is carving out a niche in processing complex, contaminated, and multi-layered waste types that mechanical systems cannot efficiently handle. This dual-technology landscape is further strengthened by increasing brand-owner commitments to recycled content integration and net-zero targets, as well as policy shifts across Europe, North America, and Asia that are mandating recycled content thresholds and incentivizing end-of-life plastic recovery systems. These developments are collectively fostering a sophisticated market ecosystem focused on innovation, traceability, and high-purity material recovery.
The market players are focusing on various strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. For instance, in June 2024, Dow announced an agreement to acquire Circulus, a North American recycler specializing in converting plastic waste into post-consumer resin (PCR). The deal included two recycling facilities located in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Arab, Alabama, with a combined capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year.