The industry was in its deepest crisis yet, Euwid reports on the concerns of recyclers, which were the topic of discussion at the bvse's conference on recycling of plastics.
 

A year ago, recyclers could still report good business, Dr. Dirk Textor, chairman of the bvse plastics recycling association, is quoted by Euwid. In the meantime, however, the situation has changed fundamentally, says Textor. Demand for recyclates had been weak for some time, production is being cut back or shut down, and stocks are growing. An improvement of the situation, which is considered fatal, is currently not in sight, said Textor. The first plant closures were the result, for example at the Veolia PET Germany plant in Rostock, which is to be closed by the end of 2023, or at the film recycler FVH Folienveredelung in Schwerin, which, according to Textor, already stopped its production on 1 May. There was also the threat of insolvencies. According to Textor, the recycling of all plastics is equally affected. There was a brutal price war between new products and recycled plastics. One of several causes was the drop in prices for virgin material. In addition, there were high energy and transport costs as well as increased production and labour costs, especially in Europe. However, the bvse chairman sees the main problem in the fact that the plastics processing industry currently relied almost exclusively on virgin material, which was a mistake. In addition, there was a trend towards packaging that is hostile to recycling. Fibre composites in particular, which are practically impossible to recycle, are increasingly being used for packaging, said Textor, who called for recycling-friendly packaging to be produced that protects the product, promotes its sales and at the same time represents real added value for the circular economy.
 

Sources:

• Euwid Recycling und Entsorgung 24/2023 (June 13, 2023)
• Photo: Fotolia