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EU, UK, Australia’s Waste Plastic Exports to Asia Hit Record High
2024-03-20
According to trade data collected by Plastic Waste Trade Watch, the export volume of plastic waste to countries outside the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reached a historic high in 2023.
— 1 — Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam: Top Importing Countries The European Union (EU) increased its export of plastic waste to Asia by 45% compared to 2022, with the total export to non-OECD countries rising from 517,000 tons in 2022 to 750,000 tons in 2023. This marks the highest level of plastic waste exports to Asia since China implemented the "National Sword" policy in 2018.
The EU's overall plastic waste exports increased from 1.04 million tons in 2022 to 1.32 million tons in 2023, with 57% being exported to non-OECD countries. Despite a decrease from 346,000 tons in 2022 to 316,000 tons in 2023, Turkey remains the largest destination for EU plastic waste. Malaysia surpassed other non-OECD countries as the top destination, with an import volume of 283,000 tons in 2023, while Vietnam increased its import volume from 100,000 tons in 2022 to 148,000 tons in 2023.
Australia's plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries increased by 13% in 2022, reaching 64,000 tons.
Japan continued to channel plastic waste to other regions in Asia, exporting 55,500 tons to non-OECD countries in November 2023 alone.
The United States experienced a slight decrease in plastic waste exports from 2022. In 2023, the U.S. exported 268,000 tons to non-OECD countries, compared to 275,000 tons in 2022. The U.S. increased its exports to Mexico from 76,000 tons in 2022 to 86,000 tons in 2023.
— 2 — EU Faces "Plastic Crisis" Reports indicate that only one-third of Europe's plastic waste is recycled, with half of the collected plastic waste being exported to countries outside the EU.
Recently, the European Parliament officially approved a ban on exporting plastic waste to non-OECD countries. Penelope Wes, a rapporteur for the European Parliament, stated, "The EU is taking responsibility by prohibiting the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries. Waste is a resource when managed properly."
With a significant outflow of "resources" and a surge of recycled plastics, the European plastic industry is grappling with an increasingly severe "plastic crisis." Industry leaders and organizations are urging immediate action to align EU policies with the goals of a circular economy, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable reforms.
Rising shipping costs have had a major impact on the European plastic industry, especially against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions affecting container shipping in the Red Sea. This situation exacerbates challenges faced by the industry, including limited raw material demand and plummeting prices for recycled materials. The Chairman of the Plastic Committee emphasizes the urgent need for Europe to expand its recycling capacity, particularly considering the revisions to EU waste transport regulations aimed at promoting a circular economy.
The influx of imported recycled plastics into the EU has raised concerns among industry stakeholders, with the Plastic Recyclers Europe (PRE) highlighting the potential instability caused by this trend. The increasing imports not only threaten the competitiveness of the European plastic recycling industry but also raise environmental concerns. PRE advocates for implementing control mechanisms to regulate the import of non-EU plastic waste and emphasizes the importance of these measures in supporting the industry's transition to a circular economy. The declaration released by PRE outlines key policy measures needed to address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of the industry.
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