Plastic Recycling Global Market Report 2025

Plastic recycling involves the process of transforming waste or scrap plastic into functional and useful products, thereby reducing high rates of plastic pollution, conserving resources, and diverting plastics from landfills or unintended destinations such as the oceans.

The primary types of plastic recycling include polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and others. Polyethylene terephthalate is a semi-crystalline polymer derived from copolymerizing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. It is sourced from various materials, including bottles, films, foams, fibers, and other sources. This type of plastic recycling finds applications in industries such as packaging, automotive, building and construction, electrical and electronics, among others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting strain on trade relations in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the Paper, Plastics, Rubber, Wood, and Textile sector by driving up the costs of essential imported inputs such as pulp, resin, synthetic rubber, lumber, and cotton, many of which have limited domestic alternatives. Packaging manufacturers, for instance, are facing higher prices for plastic films and corrugated materials, further squeezing margins in an already highly price-sensitive environment. Similarly, textile producers are grappling with increased costs for imported yarns and dyes, adding to the burden of rising labor expenses. In response, some companies are turning to recycled or biodegradable materials, while others are consolidating their supplier base to secure bulk discounts.

The plastic recycling market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides plastic recycling market statistics, including the plastic recycling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a plastic recycling market share, detailed plastic recycling market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the plastic recycling industry. This plastic recycling market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The plastic recycling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $44.88 billion in 2024 to $48.09 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to environmental awareness, regulatory initiatives, resource scarcity, waste management challenges, incentive programs, market competition.

The plastic recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $66.07 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to single-use plastic bans, consumer education, extended producer responsibility (EPR), waste-to-energy solutions, and global supply chains. Major trends in the forecast period include innovation in sorting technologies, eco-friendly packaging solutions, plastic-to-fuel technologies, collaborations and partnerships, innovation in collection systems.

The forecast of 8.3% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.3% from the previous estimate for this market. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through disrupted access to affordable post-consumer plastic scrap and reprocessing additives from Southeast Asia, impacting the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of domestic recycling facilities. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The anticipated growth of the plastic recycling market is driven by the increasing consumption of plastics. Plastics, derived primarily from fossil fuels, are synthetic organic polymers widely utilized in various sectors of the modern economy due to their lightweight, cost-effectiveness, durability, and versatility. Through plastic recycling processes, waste or scrap plastic can be transformed into functional and valuable products. As of 2022, an article from the World Economic Forum estimated that the world generates 400 million tons of plastic waste annually, with packaging constituting approximately 36% of total plastic production, and a significant 85% of it ending up in landfills. Therefore, the rising consumption of plastics is a significant factor propelling the growth of the plastic recycling market.

The increasing plastic waste is projected to drive the growth of the plastic recycling market in the coming years. Plastic waste refers to discarded plastic materials that contribute to pollution, posing a significant environmental challenge to ecosystems and human health. Plastic recycling involves converting this waste into new plastic products, thereby minimizing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and incinerators. For instance, in 2023, India was identified as one of the major contributors to global plastic waste, with an estimated 7,300,752 tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste. Consequently, the rising plastic waste is fueling the growth of the plastic recycling market.

Technological advancements are emerging as a prominent trend in the plastic recycling market. Leading companies are focusing on innovative recycling technologies that facilitate easier and more cost-effective plastic recycling processes to bolster their market position. For example, in October 2023, INEOS, a UK-based manufacturer, introduced premium snack packaging made from 50% recycled plastic. This innovative packaging solution marks a significant move towards sustainability in the snack industry by reducing dependence on virgin plastics. By utilizing recycled materials, INEOS contributes to the larger objective of minimizing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy, highlighting a growing commitment among companies to implement eco-friendly practices in packaging.

Major companies in the plastic recycling market are focusing on product innovation, such as the development of recycling additives, to gain a competitive advantage. Recycling additives are substances added to recycled plastics to enhance their properties, making them more suitable for use in new products. In May 2023, Evonik Industries AG launched TEGO Cycle, additives designed to reduce energy consumption during the mechanical recycling process and improve the flowability and appearance of recycled plastics. These additives play a crucial role in making recycled plastics more compatible with other materials, facilitating their use in a variety of applications.

In April 2022, SCG Chemicals Co Ltd. acquired a 70% stake in Sirplaste, a plastic recycling company based in Portugal, for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition aimed to expand SCG Chemicals' market presence in Portugal and Europe, particularly in the high-quality post-consumer recycled resin (PCR) product portfolio. The move also bolstered manufacturing capacity and improved the overall quality of SCG Chemicals Co Ltd. Sirplaste specializes in providing plastic waste recycling services, including sorting and crushing waste plastic.

Major companies operating in the plastic recycling market include Kuusakoski Group Oy, Berry Global Inc, B & B Plastics Inc., Plastipak Packaging Inc., CarbonLite Industries LLC, Custom Polymers Inc, MBA Polymers Inc, Clear Path Recycling LLC, Veolia Environnement S.A, Plasgran Ltd, Jayplas Limited, Envision Plastics Industries LLC, WM Intellectual Property Holdings LLC, Green Line Polymers Inc, Biffa, Republic Services, Clean Harbors, Stericycle, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, KW Plastics, The Coca-Cola Company, LyondellBasell, Indorama Ventures, Loop Industries, Nova Chemicals, Agilyx, The Procter & Gamble Company, PreZero, GreenMantra Technologies, EFS-plastics Inc., Preserve, Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH, Interseroh

North America was the largest region in the plastic recycling market in 2024. The regions covered in the plastic recycling market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the plastic recycling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The plastic recycling market includes revenues earned by entities by providing plastic recycling services such as pyrolysis, chemical recycling, and gasification. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Plastic Recycling Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses on plastic recycling market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for plastic recycling ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The plastic recycling market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include:

The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.

• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Polyethylene Terephthalate; Polyethylene; Polystyrene; Polyvinyl Chloride; Polypropylene; Other Types
• 2) By Source: Bottles; Films; Foams; Fibers; Other Sources
• 3) By End Use: Packaging; Automotive; Building And Construction; Electrical And Electronics; Other End Uses
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Clear PET; Colored PET
• 2) By Polyethylene (PE): Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE); High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• 3) By Polystyrene (PS): Expanded Polystyrene (EPS); High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)
• 4) By Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Rigid PVC; Flexible PVC
• 5) By Polypropylene (PP): Homopolymer Polypropylene; Copolymer Polypropylene
• 6) By Other Types: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS); Nylon (Polyamide); Polycarbonate
• Companies Mentioned: Kuusakoski Group Oy; Berry Global Inc; B & B Plastics Inc.; Plastipak Packaging Inc.; CarbonLite Industries LLC; Custom Polymers Inc; MBA Polymers Inc; Clear Path Recycling LLC; Veolia Environnement S.A; Plasgran Ltd; Jayplas Limited; Envision Plastics Industries LLC; WM Intellectual Property Holdings LLC; Green Line Polymers Inc; Biffa; Republic Services; Clean Harbors; Stericycle; Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies; KW Plastics; The Coca-Cola Company; LyondellBasell; Indorama Ventures; Loop Industries; Nova Chemicals; Agilyx; The Procter & Gamble Company; PreZero; GreenMantra Technologies; EFS-plastics Inc.; Preserve; Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH; Interseroh
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: PDF, Word and Excel Data Dashboard.