From the flood of boxes on your doorstep to the hidden mountains in landfills, the world's staggering packaging waste crisis is now producing over 300 million tonnes of refuse annually—a tidal wave of trash that is choking our planet and reshaping our global environment.
Key Takeaways
- Globally, packaging waste generation reached 141 million tonnes in 2019, representing 30% of total plastic waste.
- In the EU-27, packaging waste amounted to 90.5 million tonnes in 2020, up 6.4% from 2018.
- The United States generated 82 million tons of packaging waste in 2018, comprising 28% of municipal solid waste.
- Plastic packaging constitutes 42% of total plastic used globally, equating to 146 million tonnes in 2015.
- In the EU, paper and cardboard make up 41% of packaging waste by weight in 2020.
- Glass packaging accounts for 12% of US packaging waste, or 9.8 million tons in 2018.
- EU recycling rate for packaging waste was 78.5% in 2020.
- US plastic packaging recycling rate stands at 5.5% as of 2021.
- Global plastic packaging recycling rate is 9% in 2019.
- Packaging waste contributes to 36% of municipal solid waste globally.
- Global cost of plastic packaging waste management estimated at $80 billion annually in 2020.
- US spends $11 billion yearly on packaging waste disposal.
- Packaging plastics contribute 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic used since 1950, 40% still in use.
- Packaging waste plastics release 1.8 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent annually.
- 14 million tonnes of plastic packaging enter oceans yearly from mismanaged waste.
Packaging waste is a severe and growing global environmental crisis.
Composition by Material
- Plastic packaging constitutes 42% of total plastic used globally, equating to 146 million tonnes in 2015.
- In the EU, paper and cardboard make up 41% of packaging waste by weight in 2020.
- Glass packaging accounts for 12% of US packaging waste, or 9.8 million tons in 2018.
- In China, flexible plastics comprise 60% of plastic packaging waste in 2020.
- Globally, PET plastics in packaging are 16% of total plastics, 30 million tonnes annually.
- India's plastic packaging waste is 60% single-use, mostly multilayer pouches at 40%.
- Japan: Aluminum packaging 5%, steel 8%, glass 25% of total packaging in 2019.
- Brazil: Plastics 38%, paper 30%, metal 10% of packaging waste in 2020.
- UK: Cardboard 29%, plastics 25%, glass 11% in household packaging 2021.
- Australia: Plastics 41%, paper/cardboard 31% of packaging waste 2020-21.
- Germany: Plastics 17%, paper/cardboard 38%, glass 14% in 2019.
- Canada: Paper 35%, plastics 28%, metals 9% of packaging in 2019.
- Southeast Asia: Plastics 50-70% of packaging waste, HDPE and PP dominant.
- France: Plastics 16%, paper 40%, glass 13% in 2020.
- Italy: Plastics 28%, paper 35%, wood 8% of packaging 2019.
- Mexico: Plastics 45%, cardboard 25% in urban packaging waste 2020.
- Netherlands: Plastics 15%, paper 42%, glass 15% in 2021.
- Spain: Plastics 22%, paper 38%, glass 12% in 2020.
- Turkey: Plastics 35%, paper 28%, glass 10% in 2019.
- Sweden: Plastics 18%, paper 40%, metals 7% in 2020.
- Africa: Plastics 80% of packaging waste in coastal cities.
- Belgium: Paper 39%, plastics 19%, glass 13% in 2020.
- Poland: Plastics 25%, paper 35%, glass 11% in 2021.
- Singapore: Plastics 60%, paper 20% of packaging waste 2022.
- Russia: Plastics 32%, paper 29%, glass 14% in 2020.
Composition by Material Interpretation
While the planet's nations unwrap a dizzying array of packaging waste statistics, the sobering punchline remains a universal truth: our modern world is drowning in a stubbornly varied avalanche of its own disposable containers, urgently requiring global action beyond mere sorting.
Economic Costs
- Packaging waste contributes to 36% of municipal solid waste globally.
- Global cost of plastic packaging waste management estimated at $80 billion annually in 2020.
- US spends $11 billion yearly on packaging waste disposal.
- EU packaging waste treatment costs €20 billion in 2020.
- China's plastic waste import ban increased domestic management costs by 20% since 2018.
- UK packaging waste compliance costs producers £1.5 billion annually.
- Australia: Packaging EPR scheme to cost $2 billion over 10 years from 2023.
- Germany: Dual system for packaging costs €9 billion yearly.
- India: Plastic waste management costs municipalities $1.2 billion per year.
- Japan: Packaging recycling fees total ¥500 billion annually.
- Brazil: Aluminum packaging recycling saves $500 million in production costs yearly.
- Canada: Packaging waste diversion costs $1 billion provincially.
- France: Citeo EPR fees for packaging €1.2 billion in 2020.
- Italy: CONAI consortium manages €1 billion in packaging recycling.
- Mexico: Informal recycling sector handles 50% of packaging at low cost.
- Netherlands: Packaging tax generates €200 million revenue yearly.
- Spain: Ecoembes collects €400 million for packaging recycling.
- Turkey: Packaging EPR costs industry $300 million annually.
- Sweden: Producer fees for packaging €150 million per year.
- South Korea: Deposit-refund system for packaging saves $1 billion in waste costs.
- Singapore: Waste collection costs $500 million, 20% from packaging.
- Russia: Municipal packaging waste management budget $2 billion.
Economic Costs Interpretation
Our world spends staggering sums, from billions to trillions, just to manage the mountain of discarded wrappers and boxes we create, proving that the true cost of packaging is far more than what's printed on the price tag.
Environmental Effects
- Packaging plastics contribute 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic used since 1950, 40% still in use.
- Packaging waste plastics release 1.8 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent annually.
- 14 million tonnes of plastic packaging enter oceans yearly from mismanaged waste.
- EU packaging waste incineration emits 10 million tonnes CO2 yearly.
- US packaging waste landfilled contributes 20 million tonnes methane emissions annually.
- Global packaging waste pollution costs ecosystems $13 billion per year in fisheries.
- Plastic packaging microplastics affect 88% of ocean surface.
- In India, packaging waste clogs drains, causing $1 billion flood damages yearly.
- Japan's coastal packaging litter totals 100,000 tonnes yearly.
- Brazil: Packaging plastics kill 1 million seabirds annually.
- UK: Packaging waste contributes to 25% of beach litter.
- Australia: Plastic packaging in Great Barrier Reef waste 30%.
- Germany's landfilled packaging leaches toxins into groundwater.
- Canada: Packaging incineration air pollution causes $500 million health costs.
- China: Packaging waste burning releases 5 million tonnes black carbon yearly.
- France: 40% of river plastics from packaging.
- Italy: Packaging waste wildfires release 2 million tonnes CO2.
- Mexico: 10% biodiversity loss from packaging pollution in mangroves.
- Netherlands: Sea-based packaging litter 20% of total marine debris.
- Spain: Packaging microplastics in soil reduce crop yields 5%.
- Turkey: Black Sea packaging waste harms 50 fish species.
- Sweden: Packaging waste energy recovery displaces 3 million tonnes fossil fuels.
- South Korea: Packaging plastics in sediment 15% of total pollutants.
- Poland: Vistula River 30% litter from packaging.
- Singapore: Mangrove packaging pollution affects 20% bird populations.
- Russia: Arctic packaging drift threatens polar bears.
Environmental Effects Interpretation
We have gift-wrapped our planet in a stubborn, poisonous skin that is suffocating ecosystems from the deepest oceans to the highest Arctic ice, while its production and disposal are quite literally burning a hole in our atmosphere and our wallets.
Production and Generation
- Globally, packaging waste generation reached 141 million tonnes in 2019, representing 30% of total plastic waste.
- In the EU-27, packaging waste amounted to 90.5 million tonnes in 2020, up 6.4% from 2018.
- The United States generated 82 million tons of packaging waste in 2018, comprising 28% of municipal solid waste.
- China's packaging waste production hit 60 million tonnes annually by 2020, driven by e-commerce growth.
- Worldwide, food packaging alone accounts for 40% of plastic packaging production, totaling 78 million tonnes in 2022.
- In 2021, India generated 5.2 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste from flexible packaging formats.
- Japan's municipal packaging waste reached 8.9 million tonnes in 2019, with a per capita rate of 71 kg.
- Brazil produced 11.3 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2020, 12% of total solid waste.
- In 2022, global plastic packaging demand was 210 million tonnes, projected to grow 3.5% annually.
- UK households discarded 2.5 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2021, averaging 44 kg per person.
- Australia's packaging waste generation was 4.3 million tonnes in 2020-21, up 10% from prior year.
- In 2019, Germany generated 17.2 million tonnes of packaging waste, with paper/cardboard at 40%.
- South Korea's packaging waste hit 7.1 million tonnes in 2021, per capita 138 kg.
- Canada produced 2.9 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2019, 25% of total MSW.
- In 2022, Southeast Asia generated 25 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste annually.
- France's packaging waste totaled 11.8 million tonnes in 2020, increasing 2% yearly.
- In 2021, global e-commerce drove 15% increase in packaging waste, adding 20 million tonnes.
- Italy generated 12.4 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2019, 30% plastic.
- Mexico's packaging waste reached 8.5 million tonnes in 2020, 18% of MSW.
- In 2023 projection, global packaging waste to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2030.
- Netherlands produced 2.1 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2021, per capita 120 kg.
- Spain generated 7.6 million tonnes in 2020, with growth from online shopping.
- Turkey's packaging waste was 9.2 million tonnes in 2019, 22% of total waste.
- In 2022, Middle East packaging waste totaled 12 million tonnes, led by UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Sweden's rate was 45 kg per capita packaging waste in 2020.
- In 2021, Africa generated 4.5 million tonnes, projected 50% growth by 2030.
- Belgium produced 1.8 million tonnes in 2020, 35% recyclable.
- Poland's packaging waste hit 6.3 million tonnes in 2021.
- Singapore generated 0.9 million tonnes in 2022, per capita 160 kg.
- In 2020, Russia produced 7.8 million tonnes of packaging waste.
Production and Generation Interpretation
Our planet is drowning in an avalanche of convenience, where each global region contributes a staggering, rising mountain of packaging waste that proves we are wrapping our future in the very problem we need to solve.
Recycling and Disposal
- EU recycling rate for packaging waste was 78.5% in 2020.
- US plastic packaging recycling rate stands at 5.5% as of 2021.
- Global plastic packaging recycling rate is 9% in 2019.
- China recycled 30% of its plastic packaging waste in 2020.
- Japan's overall packaging recycling rate reached 84% in 2019.
- In the UK, 64% of packaging waste was recycled in 2021.
- Australia recycled 52% of packaging waste in 2020-21.
- Germany's packaging recycling rate was 97.4% for paper/cardboard in 2019.
- Canada: 25% of plastic packaging recycled in 2019.
- EU glass packaging recycling rate 76% in 2020.
- Brazil: 58% of aluminum packaging recycled in 2020.
- India: Only 9% of plastic packaging waste recycled formally in 2021.
- France: 75% of household packaging recycled in 2020.
- Italy: 82% packaging waste recovery rate in 2019.
- Mexico: 12% plastic packaging recycling rate in 2020.
- Netherlands: 88% packaging recycling rate in 2021.
- Spain: 49% plastic packaging recycled in 2020.
- Turkey: 20% of packaging waste recycled in 2019.
- Sweden: 80% of packaging waste recycled in 2020.
- South Korea: 75% packaging recycling rate in 2021.
- Poland: 68% packaging waste recycled in 2021.
- Singapore: 20% plastic packaging recycled in 2022.
- Russia: 15% plastic packaging recycled in 2020.
- Belgium: 85% packaging recycling rate in 2020.
Recycling and Disposal Interpretation
The planet's report card shows a starkly divided class: while the EU leads the honors students with an average recycling rate of 78.5%, the US, with a dismal 5.5% for plastics, is definitely getting a note sent home to its parents.
Sources & References
- Reference 1UNEPunep.orgVisit source
- Reference 2ENVIRONMENTenvironment.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 3EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 4STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 5ELLENMACARTHURFOUNDATIONellenmacarthurfoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 6CSEINDIAcseindia.orgVisit source
- Reference 7ENVenv.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 8ABREabre.org.brVisit source
- Reference 9WOODMACwoodmac.comVisit source
- Reference 10WRAPwrap.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 11DCCEEWdcceew.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 12DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 13MEme.go.krVisit source
- Reference 14CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 15ASEANasean.orgVisit source
- Reference 16ADEMEademe.frVisit source
- Reference 17MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 18ISPRAMBIENTEisprambiente.gov.itVisit source
- Reference 19GOBgob.mxVisit source
- Reference 20OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 21RWSrws.nlVisit source
- Reference 22MITECOmiteco.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 23TARIMORMANtarimorman.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 24IMARCGROUPimarcgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 25NATURVARDSVERKETnaturvardsverket.seVisit source
- Reference 26PUBLICWASTEAGENCYpublicwasteagency.beVisit source
- Reference 27STATstat.gov.plVisit source
- Reference 28NEAnea.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 29ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 30ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 31CHINAPACKAGINGchinapackaging.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 32PLASTICSRECYCLINGplasticsrecycling.orgVisit source
- Reference 33CPCBcpcb.nic.inVisit source
- Reference 34AAPACKAGINGaapackaging.org.auVisit source
- Reference 35POLLUTION-WASTEpollution-waste.ec.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 36RVOrvo.nlVisit source
- Reference 37CSBcsb.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 38OVAMovam.beVisit source
- Reference 39CHINADAILYchinadaily.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 40GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 41ZSVRMzsvrm.deVisit source
- Reference 42RECYCLINGCOUNCILrecyclingcouncil.caVisit source
- Reference 43ABALabal.org.brVisit source
- Reference 44DOWNTOEARTHdowntoearth.org.inVisit source
- Reference 45CITEOciteo.comVisit source
- Reference 46CONSORZIOCOREPLAconsorziocorepla.itVisit source
- Reference 47ANIPACanipac.com.mxVisit source
- Reference 48VERPAKKINGSBELASTINGverpakkingsbelasting.nlVisit source
- Reference 49ANARPLAanarpla.esVisit source
- Reference 50AVFALLSSVERIGEavfallssverige.seVisit source
- Reference 51KWASTEkwaste.or.krVisit source
- Reference 52GOVgov.plVisit source
- Reference 53GARANTgarant.ruVisit source
- Reference 54WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 55OPop.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 56NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 57DUALES-SYSTEMduales-system.deVisit source
- Reference 58ORFONLINEorfonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 59REVISTAALANArevistaalana.com.brVisit source
- Reference 60CRCASSOCIATIONcrcassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 61CONAIconai.orgVisit source
- Reference 62BELASTINGDIENSTbelastingdienst.nlVisit source
- Reference 63ECOEMBESecoembes.comVisit source
- Reference 64CAGDAScagdas.org.trVisit source
- Reference 65REPAKrepak.seVisit source
- Reference 66KIDRFkidrf.orgVisit source
- Reference 67MINPRIRODYminprirody.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 68SCIENCEscience.orgVisit source
- Reference 69IUCNiucn.orgVisit source
- Reference 70EEAeea.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 71PLASTICSTREATYplasticstreaty.orgVisit source
- Reference 72IBAMAibama.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 73MARINECONSERVATIONmarineconservation.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 74BARRIERREEFbarrierreef.orgVisit source
- Reference 75UMWELTBUNDESAMTumweltbundesamt.deVisit source
- Reference 76DAVIDSUZUKIdavidsuzuki.orgVisit source
- Reference 77CHINACACEchinacace.orgVisit source
- Reference 78ACTU-ENVIRONNEMENTactu-environnement.comVisit source
- Reference 79CONANPconanp.gob.mxVisit source
- Reference 80NOORDZEEnoordzee.nlVisit source
- Reference 81CSICcsic.esVisit source
- Reference 82TUBITAKtubitak.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 83AVFALLSVERIGEavfallsverige.seVisit source
- Reference 84NIFSnifs.go.krVisit source
- Reference 85IMGWimgw.plVisit source
- Reference 86NPARKSnparks.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 87MNRmnr.gov.ruVisit source