57 NOTICIAS I NEWS tenemos un elevadísimo nivel de depósito en vertedero”, afirmó Meunier. Nuestro país se sitúa en el top 5 en la gestión de los residuos de envases. Las cifras revelan que más del 35% de los residuos plásticos siguen acabando en vertedero, una tasa muy por encima de la media europea (21,5%). Conclusiones La circularidad en Europa está perdiendo impulso. “La pérdida de competitividad está lastrando la circularidad de los plásticos en Europa”, afirmó Alicia Martín. Se necesita un apoyo político decidido, con el fin de crear un ecosistema circular de los plásticos próspero que sustente la próxima generación de industrias en Europa y garantice su resiliencia y seguridad económica. “Es necesario restaurar la competitividad y desbloquear la inversión en plásticos circulares”, añadió Martín, lo que se puede hacer impulsando medidas concretas e inmediatas: abordar la crisis de costes energéticos y de emisiones en Europa, garantizar un comercio justo y que se compita en igualdad de condiciones, fomentar una fuerte demanda de plásticos circulares mediante medias de atracción de mercado y explotar el poder económico de un mercado único armonizado. “Hoy más que nunca, la circularidad tiene que ser una palanca y un motor estratégico”, concluyó Alicia Martín. Plastics Europe published its biennial report, “The Circular Economy for Plastics: A European Analysis, ” which provides the latest data and perspectives (2024) on the transition to a circular plastics ecosystem in Europe, including trends in the production, processing, consumption, and international trade of circular plastics, as well as data on waste management. Alicia Martín, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Iberian Region, and Beatriz Meunier, Communications Director, explained the main findings of the fourth edition of this report to the press. “Circularity is no longer just an environmental issue, but also a strategic objective, ” stated Alicia Martín. The production of circular plastics reached 8.7 million tons (Mt), a sharp slowdown since 2022. For the first time, the circular plastics content rate in new products exceeded 15% (7.9 Mt in 2024). 19% of the circular plastics used in processing depend on imports (25% of plastics are of fossil origin). Exports of sorted plastic waste increased by 36.5% since 2022, reaching 1.5 million tons (Mt). The recycling rate reached 29.6% (9.7 Mt). More than 70% of plastic waste ended up in incineration or landfill. The annual growth of circular production in Europe has slowed sharply, from 13.6% in 2022 to just 1.2% in 2024. In contrast, the annual growth of global circular plastics production has accelerated from 5% to 7.7%. To make matters worse, European demand for circular plastics is also losing momentum, falling from 16.2% annual growth in 2022 to 4% in 2024. Total European plastics production decreased (-6.8% compared to 2022). There has been a sharp drop in the production of fossil-based plastics (-8.3% compared to 2022). Regarding the production of circular plastics, the annual growth rate fell from 13.6% between 2018 and 2022 to just 1.2% in the 2022-2024 period. In contrast, the annual growth of global circular plastics production accelerated from 5% to 7.7%. Europe continues to hold the largest share of circular plastics in its production. While the share of circular plastics in global production is 9.6%, the share of circular plastics in European production is 15.8%. “Europe remains the world leader in terms of circular plastics share, but this leadership is linked to a decline in the production of bio-based plastics, which has fallen by 8.3% compared to 2022, ” explains Alicia Martín. European demand for circular plastics processors is also losing momentum. Furthermore, there is a significant reliance on external sources for the circular transition of plastics: 19% of the circular plastics used in processing depend on imports, which do not always meet EU requirements, and 25% of the fossil-based plastics used in processing depend on imports. Data for our country also reveals a slowdown in the growth of circular plastics production (from +12.8% annually between 2018 and 2022 to just +7.2% annually between 2022 and 2024) and a sharp halt in the use of circular plastics, which went from annual growth of +35% between 2018 and 2022 to zero growth between 2022 and 2024. Plastic Waste Management “In 2024, plastic waste exports have increased from 1.1 million tons in 2022 to 1.5 million tons in 2024, a 36.5% increase, ” explained Beatriz Meunier. 12.2% of the sorted waste was exported for recycling. More than 70% of the collected plastic waste continued to be sent for incineration or landfill. (23 Mt). The circular transition is also slowing in Spain, with a slight decrease in the recycled content rate (21.4%), although it remains well above the European average (15.8%). The report confirms Spain’s leading position in recycling rates. With a recycling rate of 42.5% for all plastic waste, Spain tops the European ranking, ahead of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, and significantly above the EU27+3 average (29.6%). “Spain is a leader in recycling rates, but we have a very high landfill rate, ” stated Meunier. Spain ranks in the top 5 for packaging waste management. The figures reveal that more than 35% of plastic waste still ends up in landfills, a rate well above the European average (21.5%). Conclusions Circularity in Europe is losing momentum. “The loss of competitiveness is hindering the circularity of plastics in Europe, ” stated Alicia. Martin. Decisive political support is needed to create a thriving circular plastics ecosystem that will underpin the next generation of industries in Europe and ensure their resilience and economic security. “It is necessary to restore competitiveness and unlocking investment in circular plastics, ” added Martín, which can be achieved by promoting concrete and immediate measures: addressing the energy cost and emissions crisis in Europe, ensuring fair trade and a level playing field, fostering strong demand for circular plastics through market attraction measures, and leveraging the economic power of a harmonized single market. “Now more than ever, circularity must be a strategic lever and driver, ” concluded Alicia Martín.
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