Current operational reprocessing capacity only covers around 23% of what is needed to recycle all plastic packaging placed on the market.
Despite this challenge, the white paper outlines a series of practical, achievable and high-impact actions that could not only stabilise the sector but also unlock significant economic, environmental and circularity benefits for the UK.
The company's white paper – ‘UK plastic packaging recycling infrastructure: Recommendations for circularity’ - provides the most comprehensive evidence base to date on the state of UK plastics reprocessing, including input from industry, analysis of UK and global policy, and modelling out to 2030.
A pivotal moment - but a huge opportunity
The research confirms that without intervention, the UK risks losing the majority of its remaining plastic reprocessing infrastructure by 2030. Over 200,000 tonnes of capacity has already been lost since 2024 due to volatile markets, policy uncertainty and high operational costs.
Yet the paper is fundamentally optimistic. If the right steps are taken now, the UK can build a resilient recycling system that supports domestic jobs, reduces reliance on exports, strengthens supply chains and accelerates progress towards a circular economy.
Recommendations: Four areas for immediate and long‑term action
The white paper sets out four priority areas for action.
First, strengthening material verification and transparency is essential to improve feedstock quality and trust in the system. Raising sorting standards, tightening recycled content verification and accelerating food grade materials approvals would help create a more reliable and accountable supply chain, supported by PRN system transparency and enforcement.
