plasticsexplained

The sources below are for BPF Plastics Explained information contained on page 2. For all other sources, please refer to footnotes in document.

182,000 people directly employed

500,000+ people directly or indirectly employed

Source: Manufactures of plastic products – Source: Annual Business Survey (ABS). Relevant SIC Codes: 20.16 (Manufacture of plastics in primary forms) and 22.2 (Manufacture of plastic products). In addition other relevant but not wholly incorporated 28.96 (Manufacture of plastics and rubber machinery), 27.33 (Manufacture of wiring devices), 33.20 (Installation of industrial machinery and equipment), 38.92 (Recovery of sorted materials) and 29320 (Manufacture of other parts and accessories for motor vehicles).  Plastics recyclers and traders – Source: BPF Recycling Group and associated survey.

£9.6bn – Value of UK exports

ITC calculations based on UN COMTRADE statistics (www.trademap.org) Product Code: 39, “Plastics and Articles Thereof” 

3.3 million tonnes of plastic material processed

Source: Euromap - Plastics Resin Production and Consumption in 59 Countries Worldwide 2007 – 2018

6,200 Companies in the plastics industry

Made up of...

400 Manufacture of plastics raw materials 
Source: Annual Business Survey (ABS) SIC Code 20.16

5,200 Manufactures of plastic products
Source: Annual Business Survey (ABS). Relevant SIC Codes: 22.2 (Manufacture of plastic products)

200 Plastics recyclers and traders 
Source: BPF Recycling Group

400 Manufacturers and distributors of machinery and ancillary equipment 
Source:  Relevant but not wholly incorporated 28.96 (Manufacture of plastics and rubber machinery) plus BPF estimates

‘What is plastic used for?’ statistics

Plastics Europe, Plastics the Facts 2020:  www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/market-data 

86% if plastic packaging is recovered

Plastics Europe, Plastics the Facts 2020:  www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/market-data 

77% if plastics drinks bottles are recycled

Valpak Databite No3:  https://www.valpak.co.uk/docs/default-source/information-zone/databite-no-3---drinks-container-recycling-rates.pdf accessed 10.12.202

50% of plastic packaging is recycled

Environment Agency, National Packaging Waste Database: https://npwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/Public/PublicSummaryData.aspx accessed 26.11.2020

78% post consumer plastic of all types is recovered

Plastics Europe, Plastics the Facts 2020:  www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/market-data 

59% of plastic bottles are collected for recycling

Recoup's UK Household Plastics Collection Survey 2020

32% of all plastic is recycled

Plastics Europe, Plastics the Facts 2020:  www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/market-data