The European Plastics Recyclers (EuPR) is expressing concern over the tight PET bottle supply on the continent. In a release, the association adds that the recycling capacity has been following the increasing trend of PET consumption and collection. However, the current combination of market forces has reduced the output of the European recycling plants.
There are a number of factors that are causing the shortage of PET plastics, including exchange rates, a longer winter, weight reductions in bottles and increased exports to the Far East, especially to China. As a result, many PET plastics recyclers are seeing acute declines in the supply of scrap plastics.
While the situation is challenging, the EuPR is offering several suggestions for improving the situation. Increasing the collection ratios and putting greater emphasis on local recycling efforts are two ways to increase the amount of PET plastics. Furthermore, the big differences per country regarding the quality and/or the quantity of the collected materials need to be brought into balance, with underachieving countries bringing their collection levels up to those of more efficient countries.
Additionally, the security of supply needs to be improved before Europe loses experienced and trained recyclers.
The EuPR stresses the need to focus on European recycling as the key for long-term sustainable resources management. Leakage of bottles to the Far East is leading to a more unsustainable situation that will affect the converters, brand owners and final users. Furthermore, the benefit of the collected material financed by the European tax payers is being misused outside the EU instead of being used for supporting the European recyclers helping Europe to move towards a recycling society.