Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Size Study, by Product, Application, and Regional Forecasts 2022-2032

Description

The Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market is valued at approximately USD 35 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.36% over the forecast period 2024-2032. Mechanical recycling has established itself as an essential solution to combat the environmental challenges posed by plastic waste. By employing advanced processing methods to transform post-consumer and post-industrial plastic materials into high-quality recycled plastics, the process plays a pivotal role in promoting a circular economy. With rising global initiatives toward sustainable practices, mechanical recycling has garnered substantial interest across key industries, including packaging, automotive, building & construction, and textiles.

The market's growth is primarily driven by the surging demand for recycled plastics in the packaging industry, as manufacturers aim to meet stringent environmental regulations and reduce dependency on virgin materials. Notably, the increase in demand for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP)-two widely recycled polymers-has spurred investments in advanced recycling infrastructure. Simultaneously, technological advancements in sorting, washing, and extrusion systems have improved the efficiency and quality of mechanically recycled plastics, enabling their use in high-value applications such as automotive components and consumer goods.

Despite the promising growth, the market faces significant challenges, including the complexity of recycling mixed plastics, contamination issues, and limited infrastructure in developing economies. Additionally, fluctuating raw material prices for virgin plastics often create market competition, deterring smaller recyclers. However, increasing policy support, such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks and mandatory recycling targets, is expected to overcome these hurdles and drive adoption.

Key opportunities lie in expanding mechanical recycling capabilities in the building & construction and automotive sectors, where lightweight, durable materials are in high demand. With the push for carbon-neutral initiatives and growing consumer awareness, companies are focusing on producing high-performance recycled plastics with minimized environmental footprints. Moreover, advancements in innovative processing techniques, such as improved sorting technologies and high-purity output methods, are set to reshape the competitive landscape.

Regionally, Europe currently leads the mechanical recycling of plastics market due to stringent environmental regulations, such as the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, which mandates the increased use of recycled materials. Asia-Pacific, led by China and India, is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by rapid industrialization, government initiatives to reduce plastic waste, and the burgeoning packaging sector. Meanwhile, North America is witnessing increased investments in recycling facilities to meet the growing demand for sustainable plastics in sectors like food & beverage and consumer electronics. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are emerging as promising regions, with growing public-private partnerships aimed at tackling plastic pollution.

The mechanical recycling of plastics market is poised for transformative growth, supported by industry-wide collaborations, technological breakthroughs, and increasing focus on sustainability goals. Leading players are investing in capacity expansion and innovative processing solutions to secure a competitive edge and meet rising global demand for eco-friendly plastic alternatives.

Major Market Players Included in this Report Are:

BASF SE
Veolia Environnement SA
Suez Environnement Company
Borealis AG
Waste Management, Inc.
Plastipak Holdings, Inc.
Alpla Group
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited
Berry Global Inc.
MBA Polymers Inc.
KW Plastics
Clean Tech Incorporated
Republic Services, Inc.
Remondis SE & Co. KG
Viridor Ltd

The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

By Product:

Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polystyrene
Others

By Application:

Packaging
Automotive
Building & Construction
Electrical & Electronics
Textiles
Others

By Region:

North America:

U.S.
Canada

Europe:

UK
Germany
France
Spain
Italy
Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific:

China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America:

Brazil
Mexico

Middle East & Africa:

Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa

Years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical Year - 2022
Base Year - 2023
Forecast Period - 2024 to 2032

Key Takeaways:

Market Estimates & Forecast for 10 years from 2022 to 2032.
Annualized revenues and regional-level analysis for each market segment.
Detailed analysis of geographical landscape with country-level insights across major regions.
Competitive landscape with in-depth information on major players.
Analysis of key business strategies and recommendations for future market approaches.
Analysis of competitive structure of the market.
Demand-side and supply-side analysis of the market.

Chapter 1. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Executive Summary

1.1. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Size & Forecast (2022-2032)
1.2. Regional Summary
1.3. Segmental Summary
- 1.3.1. By Product
- 1.3.2. By Application
1.4. Key Trends
1.5. Recession Impact
1.6. Analyst Recommendation & Conclusion

Chapter 2. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Definition and Research Assumptions

2.1. Research Objective
2.2. Market Definition
2.3. Research Assumptions
- 2.3.1. Inclusion & Exclusion
- 2.3.2. Limitations
- 2.3.3. Supply Side Analysis
  - 2.3.3.1. Availability
  - 2.3.3.2. Infrastructure
  - 2.3.3.3. Regulatory Environment
  - 2.3.3.4. Market Competition
  - 2.3.3.5. Economic Viability (Consumer's Perspective)
- 2.3.4. Demand Side Analysis
  - 2.3.4.1. Regulatory Frameworks
  - 2.3.4.2. Technological Advancements
  - 2.3.4.3. Environmental Considerations
  - 2.3.4.4. Consumer Awareness & Acceptance
2.4. Estimation Methodology
2.5. Years Considered for the Study
2.6. Currency Conversion Rates

Chapter 3. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Dynamics

3.1. Market Drivers
- 3.1.1. Surging Demand in the Packaging Industry
- 3.1.2. Technological Advancements in Recycling Infrastructure
- 3.1.3. Government Initiatives and Regulatory Support
3.2. Market Challenges
- 3.2.1. Complexity of Recycling Mixed Plastics
- 3.2.2. Fluctuating Raw Material Prices
3.3. Market Opportunities
- 3.3.1. Expansion into Building & Construction Sector
- 3.3.2. Innovations in High-Purity Output Methods
- 3.3.3. Adoption of Circular Economy Practices

Chapter 4. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Industry Analysis

4.1. Porter's 5 Force Model
- 4.1.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.1.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 4.1.3. Threat of New Entrants
- 4.1.4. Threat of Substitutes
- 4.1.5. Competitive Rivalry
- 4.1.6. Futuristic Approach to Porter's 5 Force Model
- 4.1.7. Porter's 5 Force Impact Analysis
4.2. PESTEL Analysis
- 4.2.1. Political
- 4.2.2. Economical
- 4.2.3. Social
- 4.2.4. Technological
- 4.2.5. Environmental
- 4.2.6. Legal
4.3. Top Investment Opportunities
4.4. Top Winning Strategies
4.5. Disruptive Trends
4.6. Industry Expert Perspective
4.7. Analyst Recommendation & Conclusion

Chapter 5. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Size & Forecasts by Product 2022-2032

5.1. Segment Dashboard
5.2. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market: Product Revenue Trend Analysis, 2022 & 2032 (USD Million/Billion)
- 5.2.1. Polyethylene (PE)
- 5.2.2. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- 5.2.3. Polypropylene (PP)
- 5.2.4. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- 5.2.5. Polystyrene
- 5.2.6. Others

Chapter 6. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Size & Forecasts by Application 2022-2032

6.1. Segment Dashboard
6.2. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market: Application Revenue Trend Analysis, 2022 & 2032 (USD Million/Billion)
- 6.2.1. Packaging
- 6.2.2. Automotive
- 6.2.3. Building & Construction
- 6.2.4. Electrical & Electronics
- 6.2.5. Textiles
- 6.2.6. Others

Chapter 7. Global Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market Size & Forecasts by Region 2022-2032

7.1. North America Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.1.1. U.S. Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
  - 7.1.1.1. Product Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2022-2032
  - 7.1.1.2. Application Breakdown Size & Forecasts, 2022-2032
- 7.1.2. Canada Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
7.2. Europe Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.1. UK Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.2. Germany Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.3. France Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.4. Spain Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.5. Italy Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.2.6. Rest of Europe Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
7.3. Asia-Pacific Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.1. China Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.2. India Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.3. Japan Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.4. Australia Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.5. South Korea Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.3.6. Rest of Asia-Pacific Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
7.4. Latin America Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.4.1. Brazil Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.4.2. Mexico Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.4.3. Rest of Latin America Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
7.5. Middle East & Africa Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.5.1. Saudi Arabia Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.5.2. South Africa Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market
- 7.5.3. Rest of Middle East & Africa Mechanical Recycling of Plastics Market

Chapter 8. Competitive Intelligence

8.1. Key Company SWOT Analysis
- 8.1.1. BASF SE
- 8.1.2. Veolia Environnement SA
- 8.1.3. Suez Environnement Company
8.2. Top Market Strategies
8.3. Company Profiles
- 8.3.1. BASF SE
  - 8.3.1.1. Key Information
  - 8.3.1.2. Overview
  - 8.3.1.3. Financial (Subject to Data Availability)
  - 8.3.1.4. Product Summary
  - 8.3.1.5. Market Strategies
- 8.3.2. Veolia Environnement SA
- 8.3.3. Suez Environnement Company
- 8.3.4. Borealis AG
- 8.3.5. Waste Management, Inc.
- 8.3.6. Plastipak Holdings, Inc.
- 8.3.7. Alpla Group
- 8.3.8. Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited
- 8.3.9. Berry Global Inc.
- 8.3.10. MBA Polymers Inc.
- 8.3.11. KW Plastics
- 8.3.12. Clean Tech Incorporated
- 8.3.13. Republic Services, Inc.
- 8.3.14. Remondis SE & Co. KG
- 8.3.15. Viridor Ltd

Chapter 9. Research Process

9.1. Research Process
- 9.1.1. Data Mining
- 9.1.2. Analysis
- 9.1.3. Market Estimation
- 9.1.4. Validation
- 9.1.5. Publishing
9.2. Research Attributes