Total plastics consumption by end-users in the EU27+3

Data on plastics consumption by end-users in the EU27+3 shows a slight decrease from 58.8 million tonnes in 2018 to 56.5 million tonnes in 2020, which is equivalent of 107 kg/capita and year. However, this should not be regarded as a trend yet due to the lack of data for a longer period and is biased by the specificity of the year 2020. This decrease is due to a slow-down in economic activity in Europe during the COVID19 pandemic and would not correlate with plastic circularity.

For 2020, data shows for what purposes plastics is used. Most is used for packaging, followed by building and construction; automotives; electoral and electronic appliances; houseware, leisure and sports; agriculture, farming and gardening; and textiles.

A major part of the plastic placed on the market for end-users becomes waste after a short life span. In 2020 for example, around 30 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste were collected in EU27+3.