Industries and end consumers generate significant amounts of packaging waste during manufacturing, shipping, and product consumption. After packaging waste is created, it needs to be disposed of one way or another: oftentimes badly, sometimes better.

Packaging is designed to carry, protect, and store goods, with some of the most popular materials including glass, tin, cardboard, plastic, and paper. Plastic is one of the most problematic, as it’s made from fossil fuels, hard to recycle and takes hundreds of years to degrade. During degradation, it never really disappears: it turns into microplastics and infiltrates every part of our daily lives.

Using fewer materials and finding better ways to manage packaging waste carries many benefits for companies and consumers alike, not to mention our planet, which is heating up exponentially. This is why sustainability is a matter of urgency.

“Packaging is one of those areas where it’s possible to show that you made a change to what you’re doing, and that you’re going in a more sustainable direction.”
— Jevgeni Širai, Co-founder of Woola

Global packaging waste volumes

As most packaging is designed for single use, the global growth of commerce inevitably leads to increasing amounts of packaging waste. A shift to more circular packaging, or at the very least easy-to-recycle packaging, can help prevent serious waste management challenges.

Here are some statistics on the average waste generated by different regions, starting with Europe:

About 186.5 kg of packaging waste per inhabitant was generated in the EU in 2022. This varied from 78.8 kg per inhabitant in Bulgaria to 233.8 kg per inhabitant in Ireland.¹
The EU produced about 83.4 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2022, an increase of 20.6% since 2011.¹

In the global context, Europe is a leader in recycling its packaging waste. However, there is still room for improvement. With new regulations coming into effect in the late 2020s, Europe is encouraging reusable and recyclable packaging.

5.5% of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2015 in the US was made up of plastic packaging, with only 14.6% being recycled.³
82.2 million tons of MSW in 2018 in the US were made up of containers and packaging, accounting for 28.1% of the total waste generated that year. That’s enough to fill an average landfill within a year.²
Packaging is responsible for 40% of plastic waste globally.³
942 million kilograms of plastic packaging waste are generated globally each year.⁴
After 500 years, 942 million kilograms of plastics will still be in our ecosystem, contaminating everyday life.⁴
China's ecommerce sector generated 221.5 million kilograms of plastic packaging waste in 2019 alone, while the United States produced 212.7 million kilograms.⁴
45% of global CO2 emissions in 2020 were the result of the ecommerce packaging industry.⁴
353 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated globally in 2019, more than double what it was in 2018.⁵
Projections indicate that, without intervention, plastic waste could triple by 2060, surpassing 1 billion metric tons annually.⁵

With 353 million tons of plastic waste, you could fill over 70 million Olympic-sized swimming pools with shredded plastic! Global packaging waste has significantly increased over the past decades, reflecting the growing consumption and reliance on packaged goods worldwide. It’s directly linked to the massive rise of the ecommerce industry, and without proper sustainable efforts, the story we’re writing might turn dire in no time.

Types of packaging materials

The compound growth of the ecommerce industry is a good sign for world economics, but planetary health relies on the consumer and the manufacturer acting more sustainably.

With the rise of brands that have taken up the duty to make packaging matter to the planet, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Out of all the packaging waste generated in the EU in 2022:⁶

41% was paper and cardboard, which is often favoured for its recyclability.
19% was glass, which is predominantly used for the food and beverage sector.
5% was metal, commonly used for food, beverages, and aerosol products.
16% was wood, which is widely used for packaging in the form of pallets and crates.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the packaging waste as seen above:

1. Plastic

Plastic packaging is widely used because it’s versatile and cost-effective. In 2019, packaging accounted for approximately 31% of global plastic consumption.⁵

“When you dig into it, packaging is the biggest user of plastic, and plastic comes from fossil fuels, which are a major cause of climate change.”
— Anna-Liisa Palatu, CEO and co-founder of Woola

We’ve found that the packaging sector dominates plastic production and usage, with more than double that of its closest contributor. This means that a change in the packaging sector will significantly impact the total plastic production in the world.

16.1 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste was generated in the EU in 2022, marking a 29.4% increase since 2011.¹
The EU had a 41% plastic packaging recycling rate in 2022. This is a slight increase from 38% in 2012.⁶
The US reported a recycling rate of approximately 13.6% for plastic containers and packaging in 2018.⁶
Slovakia recorded the highest recycling rate at 60%, followed by Belgium (54%), and Germany and Slovenia (both 51%).⁶
The lowest recycling rates were recorded in Malta, where only 16% of plastic packaging waste was recycled, followed by Denmark (23%), and France and Austria (both 25%).⁶

But why are certain countries better at recycling plastic than others? There are many factors that influence the success rate of plastic recycling, which include strong government policies, access to recycling facilities, clean waste streams, a cultural commitment to recycling, and an economic market for recycled materials.

Without these elements, recyclable plastic frequently finds its way into landfills or oceans, underscoring the necessity for better packaging materials.

2. Paper & cardboard

Paper and cardboard are among the most commonly used packaging materials, often favoured for their recyclability. This is especially effective if it is combined with proper instructions, interactive elements, or some sort of reward.

34 million tonnes of paper and cardboard packaging waste were generated by the EU in 2022, reflecting a 21.3% increase since 2011.¹
In the EU, the recycling rate was 80.9% in 2018 for paper and cardboard packaging.⁷
The US reported a recycling rate of 68.2% for paper and paperboard packaging in 2018.⁷
In Australia, about 4.88 million tonnes of scrap paper and cardboard were generated in the 2021–2022 period, equating to 185 kg per capita. This represents a 21% decrease from the 6.19 million tonnes recorded in 2016–2017.⁹

Paper and cardboard usage has risen, and there has also been a significant rise in their recyclability, making them a contender for sustainable alternatives to plastic. But this form of packaging has many shortfalls, such as size wastage and inconsistent reusability.

“Most companies only stock one or two box sizes, which means a lot of packaging waste comes from shipping half-empty boxes.”
— Jevgeni Širai, Co-founder of Woola

3. Glass

Glass is predominantly used for food and beverage containers due to its durability and impermeability.

15.7 million tonnes of glass packaging waste were generated in 2022 by the EU, an increase of 16.3% compared to 2011.¹
80.2% of glass waste has been recycled by the closed cycle of glass recycling in the EU.²¹
Ireland reported a recycling rate of 84% for glass packaging waste in 2022.¹
32% of container glass and 11% of flat glass are recycled globally each year.¹⁰

The glass sector is a circular sector with a high sustainability rate, but it’s problematic considering the high production costs and energy use.

4. Metal

Metal packaging, including aluminium and steel, is commonly used for food, beverages, and aerosol products.

The EU produced 4.1 million tonnes of metal packaging waste in 2022, a 7.3% increase since 2011.¹
Aluminium containers and packaging generated 1.9 million tons of waste in 2018.⁷
Steel packaging accounted for 2.2 million tons of waste.⁷
The recycling rate for aluminium packaging was about 54.9% in the US in 2015, while steel packaging reached a recycling rate of 73% in the same year.⁸

It might seem that steel is a viable solution for sustainable packaging because of its high recyclability rate. But when you take into account that about 1.91 tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere for every ton of steel produced, then the solution turns from green to grey very quickly.

5. Wood packaging

Wood is commonly used for packaging in the form of pallets, crates, and boxes, especially for transporting heavy or bulk items that require robust protection.

11.5 million tons of wood packaging waste were generated by the U.S in 2018, accounting for 3.9% of the total MSW that year.⁷
3.1 million tons of the wood packaging waste generated in the U.S were recycled, resulting in a recycling rate of approximately 27%.⁷
4.3 million tonnes of wood packaging waste were generated in 2022 by the EU, a 24.4% increase from 2011.⁷

Although wood is easily recyclable and compostable, the environment can be negatively impacted. The deforestation for production cuts down millions of oxygen-producing plants and destroys countless habitats and micro-ecosystems. Replacement trees take hundreds of years to grow to full stature.

Recycling statistics for packaging waste

By now, the “reduce, reuse, recycle” rhyme is a bit tired, but therein lies the criticality of managing a sustainable packaging sector. We should first aim to reduce consumption, secondly, reuse what we’ve already consumed/bought, and thirdly, as a last resort, recycle what we can’t reuse.

Recycling is crucial in managing packaging waste, with rates varying across materials and regions.

Only 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled.¹¹
The remaining 91% of plastic waste is discarded, ending in incineration, landfill, or polluting the environment.¹¹
49% of plastic waste ends up in landfills, while 22% is mismanaged or littered in nature, and 19% is incinerated.¹¹
12 billion metric tons of plastic waste will accumulate in landfills by 2050 if we continue this trajectory.¹²
One ecologist compared this to the weight of 36,000 Empire State Buildings.¹²

How is plastic waste managed globally — Image source: OECD

The EU's biggest leaders in plastic recycling are the Republic of Ireland (20.70 kg of plastic waste per capita each year) and Germany (19.98 kg per capita annually).¹⁴

The UK recycles just 17% of its annual plastic waste.¹⁵
50% of plastic collected for recycling is exported to countries outside the EU due to a lack of capacity, technology, or financial resources.¹⁵
51% of people received recycling education in school.¹⁶
87% of general recycling materials sent to US sorting centres are returned to the market as new materials. This allows for 13% of all general materials to spill over to landfills or cause pollution.¹⁷
Only 21% of recyclable material is currently being recycled.¹⁷

Top 10 EU countries with the highest recycling rate. — Image source: The EU Parliament

34% of plastic waste was reported as recycled in South Korea. This recycling rate is highly disputed, and therefore, they are no longer among the top plastic recyclers. This is due to official recycling rate statistics not distinguishing between what is effectively recycled and plastic waste that is either incinerated or diverted to landfills because of contamination or processing limitations. In response to these challenges, the South Korean government aims to reduce plastic waste by 50% and achieve a 70% recycling rate for plastic waste by 2030.¹³

With the immense amounts of packaging being created, one thing is clear: recycling is not the best answer. While recycling rates are increasing, but the inefficiency of recycling materials such as plastic do not make it a viable solution to the packaging waste challenge. The only real way out is to reduce packaging waste from being created in the first place by switching to reusable solutions.

Environmental impact of packaging waste

Packaging waste significantly impacts the environment through various channels, including landfills, ocean pollution, microplastics, and the carbon footprint associated with its production and disposal.

Landfills

A large portion of packaging waste ends up in landfills, where it can persist for extended periods due to the durability of materials like plastics. The decomposition of plastics in landfills can take between 100 to 1,000 years, depending on environmental conditions.

During degradation, plastics release harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, posing risks to ecosystems and human health.¹⁸

Ocean pollution

Mismanaged packaging waste often finds its way into oceans, contributing to marine pollution. Annually, approximately 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean, threatening wildlife, altering ecosystems, and posing risks to human health. This pollution affects marine life through ingestion and entanglement, leading to significant biodiversity loss.

Additionally, microplastics in the oceans may interfere with the ocean's capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide, further exacerbating climate change.²²

Microplastics

Over time, plastic packaging materials degrade into microplastics (particles smaller than five millimeters). These microplastics have been found in various ecosystems, including oceans, rivers, and even the air. They pose a significant threat to marine life and can enter the human food chain, with potential health implications that are still being studied.¹⁹

Carbon footprint of packaging production and disposal

The production and disposal of packaging materials, particularly plastics, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the production and incineration of plastic added an estimated 850 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to the atmosphere.²⁰

If current trends continue, these emissions could grow to 1.34 billion metric tons annually by 2030.²⁰

A final word on packaging waste

Tackling packaging waste isn’t just about adding another bin to your collection. We have to redesign the whole system. We can start by cutting down single-use plastics and then reshape how we design and dispose of materials. Proper education and a cultural shift toward sustainability all have to align to achieve true sustainability.

At Woola, we believe packaging should protect what’s inside without harming what’s outside. That’s why we turn leftover wool into a practical, premium-feel alternative to plastic.

If your business is ready to reduce packaging waste at the source, we’re here to help you lead the way. Request a Woola packaging sample today, or get in touch for custom packaging solutions.

40+ Packaging waste statistics to promote sustainability

Global packaging waste volumes