In view of increasingly scarce fossil resources and growing environmental requirements, plastic recycling is more than just a trend — it is a necessity. Recyclates, i.e. secondary raw materials derived from plastic waste, form the basis for a modern circular economy. This article highlights their significance, areas of application and stumbling blocks — with the aim of making it clear to companies how they can benefit from this development.

What are plastic recyclates?

Plastic recyclates (or recyclates) result from the mechanical or chemical recycling of spent plastics. According to statistics from the plastics industry in Germany, 1.9 million tons of recyclates were already processed in 2019 — an increase of 10.2% compared to 2017, with a share of around 13.7% of the total volume.

Mechanical recycling (e.g. shredding, washing, extruding) is the most commonly used, while advanced processes (e.g. chemical or solvent recycling) offer additional uses.

Demand and policy impetus

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is calling for binding recycling quotas — for example for pallets, canisters or packaging — to stabilize demand. Plastic packaging in Germany already has a recycling rate of 68.9%. Stricter requirements and public procurement should further promote the use of recycled materials.

Areas of use of recycled materials

Veolia offers under the brand PlastiLoop diverse recycled solutions in industries such as automotive, construction, logistics, household, packaging and agriculture. Examples of use include:

• automotive industry: Internal and external components, technical housings
• Construction & water management: pipes, profiles, fibers
• Household & textiles: buckets, foils, yarns
• Agriculture & Gardening: Plant pots, flexible LDPE pipes

Quality: The key to circulation

The success of recyclates depends heavily on their quality. Veolia has built special plants that produce pure fractions (e.g. PET, HDPE, PP) — even in Food-grade quality. A black and white diagram from the Federal Environment Agency clearly shows: Recyclates already cover almost 14% of plastics processing in Germany.

Technical challenges & innovations

Efficient plastic recycling requires complex process combinations:

• Sort and wash first
• Then shred, extrude, hot wash if necessary
• Finally, pelletize with high purity — often with real-time sensory control (e.g. NIR technology).

These processes are resource-intensive and require investments in infrastructure, technology and know-how.

Environmental benefits

Depending on the process, switching from primary plastics to recyclates saves up to 70% CO2 Veolia achieves annual savings of around 130,000 t of CO₂ equivalent in Germany. At the same time, water consumption is reduced in some cases by up to 80%.

Future prospects & market potential

The EU plans to introduce almost completely recyclable plastic packaging by 2030 — and is specifically reducing the use of recycled materials. The share of recycled post-consumer waste in Europe has grown from 8% to around 10% since 2018. Sectors such as automotive and construction are predestined for connectivity.

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