— By Plasteurope.com staff — 

The shift towards a circular polymer economy presents enormous challenges for plastics processing companies across Europe. EU regulations are compelling them to use increasing amounts of recycled plastics – particularly post-consumer recyclates (PCR). However, the volume of available PCR material – both now and in the foreseeable future – is limited. As a result, competition is intensifying among key sectors such as packaging, construction, and automotive. This is driving noticeable price increases and creating structural supply bottlenecks.

In a joint white paper titled “Recycled, Revalued, Repriced: PCR Plastics to 2032 – The Development of Prices for Post-Consumer Plastic Recyclate in Europe until 2032 / A Prognosis in Three Scenarios”, management consultancy Porsche Consulting (Stuttgart, Germany; www.porsche-consulting.com), the German association for technical plastic products TecPart (Frankfurt; www.tecpart.de), and the KI.PIE Group – one of the leading business and price information services for the European plastics sector – analyse the causes behind these trends and present forecasts for how PCR prices may evolve. Using three possible scenarios, the paper illustrates how political frameworks, infrastructure constraints, and technological trends have already shaped – and will continue to shape – market dynamics.

The upcoming EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (ELVR), with its mandatory quotas, is likely to further exacerbate the limited availability of PCR material. According to the white paper’s projections, price increases of up to 178% – for example in the case of polystyrene – are realistic. This development threatens to turn PCR in Europe into a scarce and strategically critical raw material, with serious implications for competitiveness and profit margins, particularly in the packaging, chemicals, construction, and automotive industries.

At the heart of the white paper lies a dynamic simulation model, which maps out the projected price development of key types of recyclates under various supply and demand scenarios for the year 2032. Supplemented by expert assessments, the study offers practical recommendations along the entire value chain – from product design and strategic sourcing to industry cooperation.

The white paper aims to provide decision-makers in the plastics processing industry with a sound, scientifically based foundation for future-proof positioning in a circular plastics economy.

Click here to request a copy of “Recycled, Revalued, Repriced: PCR Plastics to 2032”.

The white paper will be presented twice at the world’s leading plastics trade fair – K 2025 in Düsseldorf (8-15 October 2025). First, on Thursday, 9 October at 2:45 pm during Circular Thursday at the special show hosted by Plastics Europe and Messe Düsseldorf (Hall 6, Stand C40).

And again, on Monday, 13 October at 12:00 pm during the lunchtime talk hosted by the KI.PIE Group (Hall 6, Stand C28).