In 2022, the estimated total GHG emissions of the European plastics value chain were 193 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

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  1. This estimation is based on a model that was built for the Eionet Report – ETC/WMGE 2021/3 Greenhouse gas emissions and natural capital implications of plastics (including biobased plastics). The data is enriched on annual plastics demand and end-of-life data extracted from Plastics Europe’s annual Plastics facts between 2014-2024.
  2. ETC/WMGE Report 3/2021: Greenhouse gas emissions and natural capital implications of plastics (including biobased plastics)
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  3. Tenhunen-Lunkka, A., Rommens, T., Vanderreydt, I. et al. Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Potential of European Union’s Circularity Related Targets for Plastics. Circ.Econ.Sust. 3, 475–510 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00192-8