Packaging waste publications

European Platform Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA)

Exploring the environmental performance of alternative food packaging products in the European Union - Life cycle impacts of single-use and multiple-use packaging

The aims of this study are aligned with the EU’s objectives of reducing the impacts of packaging waste, in line with its ambition to transition to a circular economy and with the objectives of the proposal for a new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

Date released: 5 FEB 2024

Modelling plastic flows in the European Union value chain - Material flow analysis of plastic flows at sector and polymer level towards a circular plastic value chain

This study established a top-down mass flow analysis model (MFA) for the value chain of plastics in the EU27 2019, focusing on 9 sectors and 10 polymers.

Date released: 18 NOE 2022

Plastics materials flows in the EU-27 and their environmental impacts - Unveiling the European plastic value chain

In this report, a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) model was developed for the 2022 EU-27 plastic value chain. The MFA boundaries included all the key steps of the value chain from production to end-of-life and recycling, covering 9 sectors and 15 polymers.

Date released: 30 JUL 2025

Estimating packaging placed on the market at national level - Packaging model updates version 2.0

This report presents an updated methodology for estimating the mass of packaging materials placed on the market in EU Member States for food and beverages, home care, beauty and personal care, and pet food together covering roughly 75% of the European consumer packaging market.

Date released: 06 JUL 2026

Estimating packaging placed on the market at national level

Factsheet accompanying the report presenting an updated methodology for estimating the mass of packaging materials placed on the market in EU Member States for food and beverages, home care, beauty and personal care, and pet food together covering roughly 75% of the European consumer packaging market.

Date released: 06 JUL 2026

Modeling the EU plastic footprint: Exploring data sources and littering potential

Despite plastic being one of the most used materials globally, information about plastic flows in value chains is generally lacking.

Date released: 30 March 2022

Exploring the EU plastic value chain: A material flow analysis

The accounting of plastic flows across the economy is pivotal to assess circularity of production and consumption and to define transitions scenarios at systems level. This study established a top-down mass flow analysis model for the EU27 (2019) plastic value chain, focusing on 9 sectors and 10 polymers.

Date released: 25 OCT 2023

Combining MFA and LCA models to unveil the EU plastic value chain impacts

Plastics value chains are complex, due to different feedstocks, sectors of applications and variety of end-use products. Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment can be integrated to map the life cycle impacts associated with material flows along the plastic value chain. In this study, the environmental impacts of the entire European Union plastic value chain were evaluated for 9 sectors, from production to end-of-life with polymers-specific granular details and addressing 16 environmental impact categories

Date released: 1 JUNE 2025

Originally Published	21 Jul 2026
Knowledge service \| Metadata	European Platform Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA)

European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment

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