The report on the plastics market in Germany
How many tons of plastics are produced in Germany every year? Which applications do plastics go into? How are the recycling paths for plastic waste developing, what is happening with the use of recyclates?
Every two years, these questions are answered in a detailed study, the “Plastics Material Flow Chart”. A broad alliance of organizations along the entire plastics value chain, from manufacturers and users to the recycling industry and industrial trade unions, has been calling for participation in this study every two years since 1997. All companies that manufacture and process plastics, use them for end products, collect and recycle their waste or manufacture the necessary machinery can take part. The data is collected anonymously by Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH.
The results of the current material flow diagram for plastics are expected to be published in October 2026. The plastics material flow diagram includes data on the production, processing, consumption, waste generation, recovery and reuse of plastics through to the reuse of recyclates in Germany. The facts and figures on the plastics market are important for documenting progress in recovery and recycling and ensuring transparency. The plastics material flow diagram is highly regarded by politicians, authorities and the specialist public and shows that the circular economy is a key issue for the German plastics industry.
More than 2,000 companies from the plastics production, processing and recycling sectors were recently surveyed and official and other statistics were consulted for the comprehensive life cycle analysis. In order to achieve a high level of coverage again this year, questionnaires will be sent out again shortly, telephone interviews will be conducted and investigations and research will be launched. Participation is expressly encouraged.
Client of the study
The material flow diagram is compiled by Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH. The study was commissioned by BKV GmbH with the support of:
PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V., Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Kreislaufwirtschaft e. V., bvse – Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung e. V., VDMA e.V. Kunststoff und Gummimaschinen, IK – Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V., KRV – Kunststoffrohrverband e. V., VinylPlus Deutschland e.V., GKV – Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie e. V., AVK – Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e. V., FSK – Fachverband Schaumkunststoffe und Polyurethane e.V., TecPart – Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte e. V., pro-K Industrieverband langlebige Kunststoffprodukte und Mehrwegsysteme e. V., EPPA Deutschland e.V, IG BCE Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie, VDA – Verband der Deutschen Automobilindustrie e.V. and VCI – Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V.