Plastic packaging was the only packaging material to record growth across 19 EU member states between 2011 and 2025, according to a study published by the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The research covered countries representing more than 97% of the EU population and examined packaging placed on the market across glass, plastic, metals, paper and cardboard, and composite materials.
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It found that total packaging volumes reached 98kg per person, with food and beverage products accounting for 97% of all packaging materials placed on the market.
Among all material types reviewed, plastic alone showed an upward trend over the 2011-2025 period, rising by 11% in absolute terms.
In 2025, plastic packaging placed on the market came to 5.9 million tonnes, equivalent to 14kg per capita across the countries covered by the study.
PET remained the largest polymer used in consumer plastic packaging, reflecting its widespread use in water and soft drinks bottles.
The study pointed to a different pattern in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden, where PET volumes were lower and even second to polypropylene (PP), which is more commonly used across a broader mix of food and beverage applications.
Plastic packaging volumes were relatively steady in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, while Ireland, Romania and Poland recorded increases over time.
In Italy, plastic bottled water accounted for 46% of total plastic consumption, whereas in Sweden the share stood at 6%.
Per-person figures also showed wide variation. In 2024, Germany recorded 16kg of plastic packaging per capita, compared with 8kg in Sweden. The 19-country average was 14kg.
The study also found that total packaging placed on the market in 2024 amounted to 98kg per person, of which 75% was glass because of its greater density.
Reusable and single-use glass bottles represented the biggest share of packaging volumes, with beer bottles alone accounting for 16.5 million tonnes.
Within plastic packaging, bottled water, dairy products and carbonated soft drinks were the largest contributors by weight.
The JRC is the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, providing independent, evidence-based research to shape EU policies.
