Achievements and policy trends of extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging waste in Europe

The vastly increasing generation of plastic packaging waste has outgrown the infrastructure capacity to manage this waste effectively, resulting in critical aquatic and terrestrial pollution. In 1994, the European Commission implemented the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC, responding to growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of packaging and safe waste management. This study analyses how Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Poland—the five most populous countries in the EU (European Union)—manage their plastic packaging waste, and evaluates their established Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, which are mandatory for all EU Member States by the end of 2024. This research shows that EPR schemes improve the financial and operational viability of plastic waste management in the scope countries, resulting in higher collection and recycling rates. Take-back requirements can incentivise producers to put less plastic packaging on the market, and advanced disposal fees can encourage eco-design. The Producer Responsibility Organisation plays a crucial role in both producer and consumer awareness, and in ensuring that plastic waste is safely managed. However, the local recycling infrastructure of 6.5 Mt in 2018 is a major barrier to reaching 50% recycling of plastic packaging in the EU by 2025. The European recycling capacity only covered about 23% of the cumulative post-consumer plastic waste generation, delaying the transition to the EU circular plastic economy. The recycling capacity has increased by 3 Mt between 2018 and 2020 and needs to continue its rapid expansion to become autonomous in reaching the recycling targets.