Plastic Recycling Global Market Report 2026

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.

Tariffs are impacting the plastic recycling market by increasing costs of imported sorting equipment, shredders, washing systems, extrusion lines, and advanced chemical recycling reactors. Recycling operators in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported processing machinery, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on recycled resin exports. These tariffs are increasing capital expenditure requirements and slowing facility expansion. However, they are also encouraging domestic equipment manufacturing, regional recycling capacity development, and stronger local circular economy ecosystems.

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 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 $48.09 billion in 2025 to $52.16 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased plastic waste generation, expansion of recycling infrastructure, rising environmental awareness, growth in packaging waste recovery, availability of basic recycling technologies.

The plastic recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $71.1 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory pressure on plastic waste reduction, rising investments in advanced recycling facilities, expansion of recycled plastic usage in manufacturing, growing demand for circular economy solutions, increasing adoption of chemical recycling methods. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of mechanical and chemical recycling technologies, rising demand for recycled plastic feedstock, growing integration of advanced sorting systems, expansion of closed-loop recycling models, enhanced focus on high-purity recycled polymers.

The rising consumption of plastics is expected to drive the growth of the plastic recycling market in the coming years. Plastics are synthetic organic polymers primarily derived from fossil fuels and are widely used across nearly all sectors of the modern economy due to their lightweight nature, affordability, durability, and versatility. Plastic recycling processes enable waste or scrap plastic to be recovered and converted into functional and usable products. For example, in August 2025, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a Switzerland-based intergovernmental trade analysis and policy-making body, global plastic production reached 436 million metric tons in 2023, while international trade in plastic products surpassed approximately $1.1 trillion, accounting for about 5% of total global merchandise trade. Consequently, the increasing consumption of plastics is fueling the expansion of the plastic recycling market.

Companies operating in the plastic recycling market are increasingly focusing on the development of innovative products, such as recycling additives, to strengthen their competitive position. Recycling additives are materials incorporated into recycled plastics to enhance their performance characteristics and improve suitability for use in new applications. For instance, in May 2023, Evonik Industries AG, a Germany-based specialty chemicals company, introduced the TEGO Cycle range of additives. These additives are designed to lower energy consumption during mechanical recycling while improving the flow properties and visual quality of recycled plastics. TEGO Cycle additives also enhance compatibility between recycled plastics and other materials such as metals and glass, enabling broader application across industries. As a result, such additives play an important role in increasing the utilization of recycled plastics in diverse end uses.

In April 2024, Borealis GmbH, an Austria-based advanced plastics manufacturing and recycling technology company, acquired Integra Plastics AD for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Borealis aimed to reinforce and expand its advanced mechanical recycling capabilities to address growing demand for sustainable solutions and accelerate its transition toward a circular economy. Integra Plastics AD is a Bulgaria-based company specializing in advanced mechanical recycling technologies and operates a modern facility capable of converting post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality polyolefin recyclates suitable for demanding applications.

Major companies operating in the plastic recycling market are 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, 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 2025. The regions covered in the plastic recycling market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, 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, Taiwan, 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 Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses 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, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, 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. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• 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 technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• 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.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• 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 company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET); Polyethylene (PE); Polystyrene (PS); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Polypropylene (PP); 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 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET); Colored Polyethylene Terephthalate (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 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride (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; 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; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; 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.
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