In November 2024, the latest ‘Plastic flow in Germany 2023 – Facts and Figures on the Life Cycle of Plastics’ was published. The study, which has been compiled every two years since 1994 by Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH on behalf of the BKV, provides data and facts on the production, processing, consumption and recycling of plastics in Germany and, for several years now, also on the use of recycled materials and by-products. Together with the BKV studies on plastics in the environment, the study ‘Plastic flow in Germany’ forms a solid and comprehensive database for a fact-based discussion on the life cycle of plastics.
 
Christoph Lindner is managing partner of Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH and has been working as a management consultant for over 25 years. As an expert in plastics, the environment and recycling management, he has been involved in the preparation of the plastic flow study for 30 years. He has built up his expertise in the field of the life cycle of plastics internationally and therefore also advises in a European and global context.
 
Mr Lindner, in your opinion, what are the most important findings of the current plastics flow study? How do you classify these in a European context?
 

Plastics production based on fossil raw materials fell by 17.6 per cent compared to 2021. Although global demand for plastics is growing, around 8.5 per cent less plastic was processed in Germany in 2023 than in 2021.
 
The use of recycled plastics in plastics processing in Germany increased by 17 per cent in 2023 compared to 2021. The use of recycled materials from post-consumer and post-industrial waste amounted to around 1.93 million tonnes. Overall, the share of recycled plastic (from post-consumer and post-industrial waste) in the total processing volume in Germany in 2023 was approximately 15 per cent. This underlines the growing importance of the circular economy for the plastics industry in Germany and demonstrates progress in the recycling and recovery of plastics. At the same time, we have noted that the increase was primarily attributable to 2022, and we expect to see stagnation in 2023 and 2024, with declines already visible in some areas.
 
Nevertheless, there is still great untapped potential for recycling: at 3.6 million tonnes in 2023, the proportion of plastics that are recovered for energy is still too high. Around 2.2 million tonnes of plastic waste in mixed waste streams such as household waste or mixed commercial waste usually ends up directly in energy recovery without being treated.
 
In the European context, the sharp declines in plastics production and processing are particularly noteworthy. Sharply rising energy and production costs are the main reasons for this.
 
Thirty years ago, in 1994, the first plastic flow study was published. What milestones have been reached during this period? What can be gleaned from the data and facts about the material and its development to date?
 
The first material flow study in 1994 was still a plastics recycling study.
 
Since 1997, it has been a ‘real’ plastic flow study covering production, processing, consumption, waste generation and treatment. Since 2017, we have been analysing the entire plastics cycle, i.e. including the use of post-consumer and post-industrial recyclates in plastics processing.
 
Three aspects are particularly striking.
 
Firstly, the landfill ban since June 2005. Until then, up to 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste were still being landfilled. The increase in plastic waste, especially in the post-consumer sector, is also noteworthy. Here, the volume tripled from approximately 1.9 million tonnes in 1994 to around 5.6 million tonnes in 2023. Based on the same measurement point, the amount recycled increased from 900,000 tonnes in 1994 to around 2.25 million tonnes in 2023.
The sources of recycled materials remain constant. Throughout almost the entire survey period, more than 80 per cent was obtained from packaging waste. This shows the significant catching-up to be done in many applications, such as construction, electrical engineering and automotive.
 
Where do you think the plastics industry in Germany is headed in the coming years? In your opinion, what are the most important tasks for advancing the circular economy for this material, also with a view to Busan in South Korea, where the global community has just met to discuss a global plastics agreement?
 
The strongest drivers in Germany and Europe are the PPWR (Plastic Packaging Waste Regulation), the ELVR (End-of-Life Vehicles regulation) and further regulations that are expected, for example for the electrical sector or in the field of construction products.
 
Supplemented by further voluntary commitments or general market demand, such as in the construction sector, this results in a demand for around 3 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic recyclates in Germany by 2030. However, this demand is not expected to be met by supply. We currently estimate a gap of between approx. 350,000 and 850,000 tonnes.
 
The demands discussed in Busan focus primarily on a different aspect. They are very much concerned with reducing the amount of plastics entering the environment. Two solutions are being discussed: reducing the amount of plastics entering the environment by reducing production volumes or significantly improving waste management in the countries concerned. This issue plays only a minor role in Germany and other EU countries.
 
The question is therefore how we can achieve significantly improved circularity for plastics.
 
In addition to improved technologies and processes, particular attention must be paid to the high proportion of untreated plastic waste. Too much plastic waste still ends up directly in waste incineration plants or other energy recovery facilities.

 
Mr Lindner, thank you very much for the interview!

(December 2024)