INDICATOR |
2025 DATA VARIATION VS 2024 |
|
Output Volumes( Mechanical recycling only) |
~ 850,000 tonnes |
+ 2.0 % |
Total Estimated Volumes( Including ground / integrated) |
1.30- 1.40 million tonnes |
Stable |
Sector Revenue |
~ 685 million € |
-1.1% |
Surveyed Companies |
76 companies |
- |
Active Plants in the Country |
88 plants |
- |
RECYCLED POLYMER SHARE OF TOTAL VOLUME(%) |
REFERENCE ECONOMIC SEGMENT( REVENUE) |
||
R-PET( Polyethylene terephthalate) 27 % Top segment by value(~ 272 million €, close to 40 % of the total) | |||
R-PE flexible( Polyethylene film) |
23 % |
Most represented category by number of companies |
|
R-HDPE( Rigid polyethylene) |
19 % |
Strong growth in supply from foreign municipal collection |
|
R-MPO( Mixed polyolefins) |
16 % |
Intended for diverse applications |
|
R-PP( Polypropylene) |
13 % |
Growing(+ 1 % in volumes compared to 2024) |
|
Others( Styrenics, PVC, PA, etc.) |
2 % |
||
APPLICATION SECTOR |
MARKET SHARE(%) |
TREND / TYPE OF PRODUCTS |
||
Rigid Packaging |
37 % |
Strongly progressing( e. g., R-PET beverage bottles) |
||
Pipes |
12 % |
Non-pressure conduits for construction, sewage, cable ducts |
||
Other Building and Construction |
11 % |
Stable compared to the previous year |
||
Flexible Packaging |
9 % |
Industrial and commercial films |
||
Other Flexible |
6 % |
Mostly waste collection bags |
||
Housewares and Garden |
3 % |
Pots, saucers, and household items |
||
Other Agriculture |
2 % |
Hoses and sheeting |
||
Other Applications |
20 % |
Heterogeneous sector( down-2% on 2024) |
||
THE RECYCLING MAP AND THE STAR PERFOR- MANCE OF PET The geography of the sector follows the traditional routes of Italian manufacturing: 66 % of the 88 plants surveyed by Assorimap are concentrated in the North( with the North- West and Lombardy leading the way with 31 sites), the South and Islands hold their ground at 26 %, and the Center closes at 8 %. Polyethylene passes through the machinery the most( 42 % of the total, between flexible and rigid), but the true economic star of the year is PET( the polymer used for water bottles). Despite recording a slight dip in volumes(-1 %), the R-PET segment became the leading category by economic value, soaring to 272 million euros( nearly 40 % of the sector‘ s total |
revenue). The reason? Regulatory momentum and the race among beverage brands to secure flakes and food-grade granules to meet sustainability targets.
THE TRANSITION CANNOT JUST BE A COST The packaging market absorbs nearly half of the recycled plastic( 46 %), followed by piping( 12 %) and construction( 11 %). Raw material is not lacking, given that 83 % of the stream comes from Italian domestic and industrial separate waste collection. The problem is therefore not technical capacity or public willingness, but the stability of the system. The recent European Packaging and Packaging
|
Waste Regulation( PPWR), published in the Official Journal, sets the course toward 2030 by imposing fixed quotas of recycled material. However, policymakers cannot limit themselves to setting regulatory milestones while simultaneously allowing European recyclers to be wiped out by low-cost foreign materials that lack equivalent traceability standards.
MARKET PROTECTION The circular economy cannot rely solely on the shoulders( and losses) of recycling industrialists. Without market protection and serious relief on energy costs, the risk is that Italy will find itself celebrating its record separate collection rates over the ruins of its own regeneration factories.
|
Italian technology plast / October 2026 |
www. plastmagazine. it |
019 |