Seventy percent of U.S. consumers say companies should reduce packaging waste, and 63% factor sustainability into product choices. At the same time, single-use plastic packaging accounts for about 42% of all plastic waste generated. The statistics connect consumer pressure, plastic waste output, and EU policy targets for recycling and waste management.
Key Takeaways
- 70% of U.S. consumers say they want companies to reduce packaging waste — percent (2021)
- 63% of consumers consider sustainability when choosing products — percent (2019)
- 57% of global consumers want companies to take action on plastic waste — percent (2020)
- Single-use plastic packaging accounts for about 42% of all plastic waste generated — share attributed to single-use packaging (2019)
- Food packaging is the largest packaging segment by environmental impact in many LCA studies — reported as top contributor in reviewed LCAs (systematic review)
- Recycling paper saves about 60% of energy compared with making paper from virgin pulp — energy savings (widely cited LCA figures)
- EU Directive 94/62/EC introduced packaging and packaging waste requirements — core framework for packaging waste management in the EU
- EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) proposals set targets for recyclable packaging by 2030 — policy target in legislative proposal
- EU single-use plastics directive bans certain single-use plastic items — bans included in Directive (EU) 2019/904
- $80.1 billion packaging recycling market value in 2023 — global market size for recycling
- The global sustainable packaging market size is forecast to reach $483.2 billion by 2030 — forecast market size
- Global packaging market size was $914.6 billion in 2023 — market value
- 50% of global plastic packaging in a typical use cycle is converted into waste within 1 year (median lifetime for plastic packaging).
- Global plastic packaging waste generation is projected to increase by 47% from 2019 to 2060 under a business-as-usual scenario (OECD and partner modeling of plastic flows).
- Directive (EU) 2018/852 amends Directive 94/62/EC and increases packaging recycling targets, including requirements that Member States achieve higher recycling rates for packaging waste by 2030 (legislative target revision).
Consumers want less plastic waste, and EU and global policies push recyclable packaging and recycling targets.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer & Brand3 stats
01
70% of U.S. consumers say they want companies to reduce packaging waste — percent (2021)
02
63% of consumers consider sustainability when choosing products — percent (2019)
03
57% of global consumers want companies to take action on plastic waste — percent (2020)
Interpretation
Consumer & Brand Interpretation
For the Consumer and Brand angle, a strong majority of consumers are pushing for greener packaging, with 70% of US consumers wanting companies to reduce packaging waste and 57% of global consumers calling for action on plastic waste.
02 · Category
Environmental Impact3 stats
01
Single-use plastic packaging accounts for about 42% of all plastic waste generated — share attributed to single-use packaging (2019)
02
Food packaging is the largest packaging segment by environmental impact in many LCA studies — reported as top contributor in reviewed LCAs (systematic review)
03
Recycling paper saves about 60% of energy compared with making paper from virgin pulp — energy savings (widely cited LCA figures)
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
For the environmental impact angle, single-use plastic packaging drives a major share of waste at about 42% of all plastic waste, while LCA research consistently finds food packaging is the top contributor and recycling paper can cut energy use by around 60% versus virgin pulp.
03 · Category
Regulation & Policy10 stats
01
EU Directive 94/62/EC introduced packaging and packaging waste requirements — core framework for packaging waste management in the EU
02
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) proposals set targets for recyclable packaging by 2030 — policy target in legislative proposal
03
EU single-use plastics directive bans certain single-use plastic items — bans included in Directive (EU) 2019/904
04
EPR rules for packaging waste are required for EU Member States — requirement in Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
05
The U.S. Plastic Packaging Accountability Act proposed EPR for packaging waste (introduced 2024) — policy proposal status (2024)
06
E.U. Landfill Directive limits landfilling of biodegradable waste — policy requirement on waste landfilling
07
EU waste framework directive defines recycling and waste classification requirements — Directive 2008/98/EC
08
EU Packaging waste collection targets include 70% by 2025 for certain packaging waste streams — stated targets in directive update
09
EU Member States must meet packaging waste recycling targets for 2025 and 2030 — legally required targets in directive
10
Germany’s VerpackG establishes producer responsibility for packaging — legal framework introduced 2019 (amended)
Interpretation
Regulation & Policy Interpretation
Across key regions, regulation is steadily tightening with the EU laying down core packaging waste rules under Directive 94/62/EC, pushing new PPWR proposals that aim for recyclable packaging by 2030, and adding single use plastic and EPR requirements, while the U.S. is also moving toward EPR through the 2024 Plastic Packaging Accountability Act and the EU’s Landfill Directive restricts disposal of biodegradable waste.
04 · Category
Market & Economics9 stats
01
$80.1 billion packaging recycling market value in 2023 — global market size for recycling
02
The global sustainable packaging market size is forecast to reach $483.2 billion by 2030 — forecast market size
03
Global packaging market size was $914.6 billion in 2023 — market value
04
The global recycled plastic market is projected to grow to $26.5 billion by 2030 — forecast market value
05
The global paper and board packaging market is projected to reach $300.4 billion by 2030 — forecast market size
06
The global bio-based plastics market size was $6.3 billion in 2023 — market value (2023)
07
EU deposit-return systems can improve collection rates to 90%+ for beverage containers where implemented — reported achievable level
08
Global investment in recycling infrastructure reached about $6.6 billion in 2022 — capital investment estimate (2022)
09
The EU’s circular economy action plan identifies €10 billion of investments needed for waste management and recycling — investment scale
Interpretation
Market & Economics Interpretation
From a Market and Economics perspective, strong growth signals sustainability momentum as the global sustainable packaging market is forecast to reach $483.2 billion by 2030 while the recycling market is valued at $80.1 billion in 2023 and the overall packaging market is much larger at $914.6 billion in 2023.
More related reading
05 · Category
Material Flows2 stats
01
50% of global plastic packaging in a typical use cycle is converted into waste within 1 year (median lifetime for plastic packaging).
02
Global plastic packaging waste generation is projected to increase by 47% from 2019 to 2060 under a business-as-usual scenario (OECD and partner modeling of plastic flows).
Interpretation
Material Flows Interpretation
From a material flows perspective, half of global plastic packaging becomes waste within a year and plastic packaging waste is still projected to rise by 47% by 2060 under business as usual, showing a rapid and growing throughput of material loss.
06 · Category
Policy & Compliance1 stats
01
Directive (EU) 2018/852 amends Directive 94/62/EC and increases packaging recycling targets, including requirements that Member States achieve higher recycling rates for packaging waste by 2030 (legislative target revision).
Interpretation
Policy & Compliance Interpretation
Policy and compliance is tightening because Directive (EU) 2018/852 amends 94/62/EC to raise packaging recycling targets, pushing Member States to accelerate and meet new requirements.
07 · Category
Lifecycle Impact3 stats
01
Paper-based packaging can reduce fossil energy demand by roughly 20–40% versus plastic packaging in some gate-to-grave LCAs when paper is recycled and substitution credit is applied (reported range across reviewed assumptions).
02
A meta-analysis of plastic LCA studies reports that impact results are highly sensitive to recycling rates and end-of-life allocation rules, explaining large variability in claimed environmental benefits (review finding).
03
36% of packaging-related greenhouse-gas emissions in the EU are associated with production of packaging materials (share reported by systems assessment across the packaging life cycle).
Interpretation
Lifecycle Impact Interpretation
From a lifecycle impact perspective, the EU’s packaging greenhouse-gas burden is heavily shaped by material production at 36%, and LCAs show that the climate outcome can swing markedly based on material choice and assumptions such as recycling rates, with some gate-to-grave comparisons finding paper can cut fossil energy demand by about 20 to 40% versus plastic.
report visual · Comparison
Consumer demand and packaging waste impact
Most people say sustainability matters, while single-use plastic still drives a large share of plastic waste.
70% of U.S. consumers say they want companies to reduce packaging waste — percent (2021)70%
63% of consumers consider sustainability when choosing products — percent (2019)
63%
50% of global plastic packaging in a typical use cycle is converted into waste within 1 year (median lifetime for plasti
50%
Single-use plastic packaging accounts for about 42% of all plastic waste generated — share attributed to single-use pack
42%
source-verifiedpfizer.com · statista.com · oecd.org · science.org2021
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Packaging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Sustainability In The Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Sustainability In The Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)