Data published by PETCore (PET Container Recycling Europe) and EuPR (European Plastics Recyclers) on the collection and recovery of PET bottles in Europe in 2011 show a 9.4% increase - 140 thousand tons (5.6 billion bottles) more than in 2010 - in the overall volume, taking it to 1.59 million tons. Basically, 51% of all the bottles entering the marketplace for consumption in 2011 were recovered. These data refer to the 27 EU-member countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Instead, if these last four countries are excluded, the increase recorded (+2%) is almost constant.
All but three of the countries surveyed, according to the collection systems and specific economic instruments used, exceeded the 22.5% recycling target established by the Packaging Directive, and a third exceeded the 70% mark. It is estimated the 27 EU-member countries, together with the other four states mentioned above, have a PET mechanical recycling capacity of around 1.9 tons, only 77% of which is currently exploited. This therefore means that PET collection still has considerable growth margins.
As regards the destination of recycled PET in 2011, over 50% was used to make containers or sheets and films for new packaging, while 39% was used to produce fibres. A slight increase was recorded in the production of straps, which just passed the 100 thousand ton mark.