A. Relevance and sustainability context
A.1 Policy relevance
The recycling rates of packing waste are mandatory for monitoring compliances with overarching EU directives as one central element of the European green deal. In regards to the ministry level, the German Environment Agency (UBA) are in charge of enforcing and monitoring the implemented rules on a national level. As there are sectorial goals and quotas formulated (see below), the indicator is highly relevant for monitoring regulated emission mitigation measures.
The EU aims for a minimum of 65% of all packaging waste to be recycled by the end of 2025 and 70% by 2030: Paper and cardboard: 85% by 2030; Glass: 75% by 2030; Ferrous metals: 80% by 2030; Aluminium: 60% by 2030; Plastics: 55% by 2030; Wood: 30% by 2030). For this several different policy regulation and strategies are in place:
EU:
- The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR – Regulation 2025/40)
- The Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD – Directive 2019/904)
- The Waste Framework Directive (WFD – Directive 2008/98/EC)
- Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)
- European Green Deal
National:
- The Circular Economy Act
- The Packaging Law Implementation Act
- The Mandatory Deposit Refund Policy
- The Reusable Alternative Mandate
- Single-Use Plastics Fund Act
- Commercial Waste Ordinance
The dataset provides data on packaging and packaging waste in order to monitor compliance with the quantitative recovery and recycling targets.
A.2 Sustainability and / or comparative evaluation options
To put the indicator into perspective, the overall share of waste streams in relation to the biobased section could be made. Further evaluation of the effectiveness of supply and value chains could be made to elaborate the overall efficiency of material usage in an economy and on a sectoral level.
An increased share (%) recycling rate of shows a positive trend in regards to reduce the loss of resources from the system as well as by increasing recycling the aim for more cascaded and circularly used materials. Comparative evaluations could be made with https://doi.org/10.2908/ENV_WASPAC to get information for recycling for material purposes and energetic purposes. With this comparison it is possible to evaluate the circular or cascaded usage of the packaging waste in general and especially for biomass products. Potentials for improvements could be derived from this comparison.
B. Data availability
B.1 Stage of development
Method is well established and documented by Eurostat.
B.2 Data sources
Primary data in Eurostat: https://doi.org/10.2908/ENV_WASPACR
B.3 Coverage over time and replicability
The indicator is reported in a time span from 1997-2023 and is annually updated due to mandatory reporting obligations.
B.4 Coverage across scales and sectors; compatibility
The indicator is reported on national and on international level on EU scale. Following waste categories are included in the database, but only the following are connected to the bioeconomy: paper and cardboard packaging; plastic packaging; wooden packaging; other packaging.
C. Considerations for operationalization
C.1 Feasibility: Fit for monitoring
The indicator is very robust and methodologically sound and reliable, and fit for bioeconomy monitoring, as it is a central indicator on EU level for the topic waste and circularity.
C.2 Institutions
Eurostat is responsible for calculation.
C.3 Future prospects
As the indicator is central for monitoring regulatory quotas, the monitoring for the indicator will be continued.
C.4 Costs, considerations and reproducibility
As the data is already reported and calculated by Eurostat and openly available, there will be no cost connected to data sharing.
C.5 Potential for automation
There is a strong possibility for automation based on linkage Eurostat or here: https://doi.org/10.2908/ENV_WASPACR
C.6 Presentation options and breakdown / sub-indicator needs
The indicator can either be described in relative terms (%) in relation to the EU regulatory goals. Or as an trend to illustrate the development of recycling for different waste streams.
C.7 Potential for scenario integration
Possibility to use trends of packaging waste for estimations of future potentials of biogenic residues and wastes, as well as for monitoring the use of renewable carbons within the different packaging categories.
C.8 Interlinkages and alignment with other monitoring activities
Indicator is interlinked with Eurostat regarding EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).