Summary

In France, the plastic recycling industry has seen increasing attention since 1992, with a significant growth in ecological awareness among companies, both specialized in recycling and those producing plastics. Despite these efforts, challenges persist, as of the latest data  indicating that out of the annual generation of 4.5 megatons of plastic waste, roughly 2.5 megatons originate from packaging, with only 29% of plastic packaging being recycled. On average, each French citizen generates 15 kilos of recyclable plastic waste per year. The market structure involves various actors positioning themselves to address the growing demand for recycling services amidst increasing regulatory pressures to enhance sustainability.

Emerging Trends in the French Plastic Recycling Market

The French plastic recycling market has seen a steady rise in ecological awareness and engagement from both specialized recycling companies and plastic producers. In response to increasing environmental concerns and political discourse, the recycling industry in France has matured, highlighted by the introduction of selective sorting measures.

A key trend within the French market is the expansion of recycling practices motivated by environmental considerations, alongside the recognition of significant energy savings associated with the recycling process. It is estimated that recycling one ton of plastic can conserve between 800 and 850 liters of oil, underlining the importance of recycling efforts from both an ecological and economic standpoint.

The significant per capita consumption further underscores the potential demand for expanded recycling services and the importance of enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the French plastic recycling market.

Pioneers and Innovators in the French Plastic Recycling Arena

The French plastic recycling market has been evolving over the years, driven by both regulatory push and ecological motives. Within this market, several key players stand out for their contributions, innovations, and commitment to advancing the recycling of plastic waste. While their turnovers are considerable indicators of their impact, their roles in the industry demonstrate a devotion to sustainability and environmental preservation.

  • Veolia: As a global giant in optimized resource management, Veolia has been a significant actor in France's recycling industry. The company offers a variety of services, from waste collection to recycling and repurposing materials. With a well-established infrastructure for managing and processing plastic waste, Veolia plays an influential role in the French recycling marketplace.

 

  • Veolia Propreté: Operating within the Veolia umbrella, Veolia Propreté specifically targets the recycling and waste management sector. This entity focuses on optimizing the end-of-life cycle for plastics and ensuring the effective reintroduction of recycled materials into the production chain.

 

  • SUEZ: Another major contributor, SUEZ is known for its solutions in water and waste management, including plastic recycling. The company operates several facilities designed to process and recycle plastics, turning them into valuable secondary raw materials for the production of new products. Its endeavors have been key in reinforcing the importance of sustainable material management.

 

  • Paprec Group: Focusing predominantly on recycling, Paprec Group has emerged as a dedicated player in the French market. They are known for their extensive capabilities in recycling various types of materials, notably plastics, and their innovative approach to waste treatment aligns with France's environmental objectives.

 

  • Plastic Omnium : While traditionally recognized for its role in producing plastics, particularly for the automotive industry, Plastic Omnium has increasingly considered the importance of recycling. They are investing in technologies and processes that integrate recycled materials into new products, signaling a shift towards a more circular economic model within the industry.

These actors, among others, are positioning themselves at the forefront of a market that is rapidly gaining importance in the French economy and society. With the increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, their roles become ever more pivotal in shaping the future of plastic usage and its lifecycle. Each company, with its unique expertise and services, contributes to the collective endeavor of making the world a cleaner and more sustainable place through the efficient and innovative recycling of plastic waste.

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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 22/08/2022
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and presentation

Recycling is the process of treating waste products that have reached the end of their life cycle, allowing some of their materials to be reintroduced into the production of new products. Plastic is one of the materials that can be recycled and is currently a huge environmental concern as well as a high-profile issue in political discussions.

In France, plastic recycling is already practiced since 1992 and the implementation of selective sorting, and more and more companies are turning to this practice in 2022 for ecological motivations. Not only companies specialized in this field, but also companies producing plastics are becoming more and more aware of recycling. Recycling one ton of plastic saves 830 liters of oil. This is why it is important to recycle.

In France, about 2.5 megatons of plastic waste come from the packaging industry out of the 4.5 generated per year and in 2019 only 29% of plastic packaging was recycled. A French person consumes an average of 15 kilos of recyclable plastic waste per year.

1.2 Marché mondial

Le marché mondial du plastique recyclé, largement encouragé par les politiques de développement durable visant à établir une économie circulaire, devrait connaitre une forte croissance dans la décennie à venir. Il devrait progresser selon un CAGR de *,*% entre **** et ****, passant d'une valeur de **,* milliards de dollars à celle de **,* milliards $US.

Évolution ...

1.3 Marché national

La production de MPR (***) en France était de *** kilotonnes en ****, pour un chiffre d'affaires de *** millions d'euros générées par les activités de collecte et de préparation des déchêts plastiques. Ces données, présentées dans le dossier recyclage de l'ADEME ****, révisé en ...

1.4 Flux mondiaux de plastiques

Il est possible d'analyser les flux de déchêts plastiques grâce aux données mises à disposition par UN Comtrade sous le code HS **** : "Déchets, rognures et débris de matières plastiques". Les données concernant les flux de plastique recyclé ne sont pas disponibles, mais celles relatives ...

2 Analysis of the demand

2.1 L'augmentation de la production de plastique

Le recyclage du plastique a émergé comme solution à la croissance exponentielle de la production de plastique depuis les années **. Un rapport de l'OCDE prévoit une production primaire de plastique de * *** millions de tonnes en ****. Ce scénario serait effectif si la croissance du tonnage produit de *% par an, entre ...

2.2 Contrer la pollution plastique

Pollution des océans

Lorsqu'ils ne sont pas collectés et traités, les plastiques finissent le plus souvent dans les milieux naturels, où ils deviennent une menace pour la faune et la flore. Au fil des ans, la quantité de microplastiques présente dans les océans est devenue de ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Étapes du recyclage du plastique

À l'heure actuelle, tous les plastiques ne sont pas recyclables. Les trois familles largement recyclées aujourd'hui sont :

Les polyéthylènes téréphtalates (***) : bouteilles d'eau, de sodas, d'huile alimentaire ; Les polyéthylènes haute densité (***) : flacons de gel douche, shampoing, sauce, ou liquide vaisselle ; Les polypropylènes (***) : vaisselle en plastique ...

3.2 Destination des plastiques utilisés

Les Français jettent entre *,* et *,* millions de tonnes de déchets plastiques par an. L'écart entre ces données est celui entre les estimations du ministère de la Transition écologique et solidaire, et ceux de l'ONG WWF. Seuls **% de ces déchêts étaient recyclés en ****. Pour ...

3.3 Destination des plastiques recyclés

Ci-dessous, quelques emplois de la matière recyclée. Celle-ci dépend de la composition chimique du plastique d'origine.

Source: ****

Il faut noter que le plastique ne peut pas être recyclé à l'infini.

3.4 Acteurs du secteur

Alors que sur le marché primaire de la plasturgie, on dénombre *** producteurs de résines vierges, dont ** sites avec activités de régénération des matières plastiques, et *** entreprises de fabrication d'emballages plastiques. Enfin, on compte *** sites de collecte et traitement des déchêts plastiques. Cela ...

4 Analysis of the offer

4.1 Prix du plastique recyclé

Le PET, polytéréphtalate d'éthylène, utilisé notamment pour les emballages sous formes de bouteilles, est l'un des plastiques les plus recyclés, grâce à une technologie déployée depuis depuis plus de ** ans. Si le prix du PET recyclé, ou rPET, bénéficiait jusqu'ici d'une décôte, ...

4.2 Recyclage des composites

Les matériaux composites étaient jusqu'ici des plastiques impossibles à recycler, du fait de leur composition : au moins deux phases différentes, jointes par un matériau de liaison, et structuré par une matière fibreuse. Leur recyclage est donc un véritable casse-tête, du fait du besoin de séparer ...

5 Regulation

5.1 Renforcement progressif de la réglementation

La directive ****/*** de l'UE sur les emballages et déchets d’emballages fixe des objectifs clairs pour l'ensemble des ** pays européens et quarante entreprises qui ont signé le « Pacte plastiques européen », desquels fait partie la France :

** % des emballages plastiques recyclés d’ici **** et ** % d’ici **** ; ** % des bouteilles ...

6 Positioning of the actors

6.1 Segmentation

  • Paprec Groupe
  • Véolia Groupe
  • Suez Groupe
  • Eastman
  • Loop Industries
  • Earthwake Entreprise
  • Skytech
  • &Repeat
  • Galloo Recycling
  • Plasticlean
  • Recyclex
  • Plastus
  • Infineo
  • CARBIOS
  • Aloxe
  • Green Dot Bioplastics
  • Südpack
  • Buitex (Semin groupe)
  • Léko

List of charts

  • Plastic recycling sales trend
  • Trends in primary plastics production
  • Destination des plastiques utilisés
  • Net exporters of plastic waste
  • Net importers of plastic waste
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Latest news

Waste: Paprec pushes ahead in Switzerland - 15/01/2024
  • Paprec was founded in 1994 Paprec has been active in Switzerland for 13 years.
  • Paprec has acquired 40% of the capital of Helvetia Environnement, the local leader in its sector in Switzerland.
  • Two investment funds hold respectively 40% and 20% of Helvetia Environnement's capital.
  • Paprec Switzerland generates sales of €50 million from six sites.
  • Helvetia Environnement generates sales of 130 million euros with 22 operating centers.
  • Paprec invests 400 million euros annually in its production facilities.
  • Paprec recently completed its fifth round of financing, welcoming Vauban Infrastructure Partners and Crédit Agricole as new shareholders.
  • Thirty years after its creation, Paprec has achieved sales of 3 billion euros.
Veolia's plan for growth in energy - 13/01/2024
  • The group already generates a quarter of its sales (just over 10 billion out of almost 43 billion euros in 2022) from the operation of heating networks, the recovery of energy from waste and wastewater, and energy-related services.
  • The Group, which has positioned itself in the field of "decarbonizing local energy", estimates that it will be worth 500 billion euros in Europe by 2030
  • Services related to energy efficiency in buildings and industry could represent a market worth 200 billion euros by 2030
  • Green energy supply and heating/cooling networks could be worth 150 billion euros by 2030.
  • The operation of heating networks is Veolia's main energy business (revenues of 5.9 billion euros in 2022),
  • Veolia operates more than 500 networks.
Veolia to sell its engineering subsidiary SADE - 27/11/2023
  • SADE's annual sales are expected to reach around 1.1 billion euros in 2022.
  • SADE employs around 6900 people.
Toulouse start-up Hycco steps up hydrogen fuel cell production - 25/11/2023

Océano Loisirs offers unusual accommodation to extend visitors' stays - 30/10/2023

The Vendée-based leisure group, with two theme parks in Moutiers les Maufaits, invests 5 million euros

O'Fun park and 'O'Gliss , the two theme parks welcomed 320,000 visitors in 2023, including 210,000 for the water park alone.

They achieved sales of 9 million euros for the 2023 season.

20 permanent employees and up to 320 in season.

Citeo and Suez start up France's second plastic packaging sorting facility - 28/10/2023
  • The Suez group and Citeo have invested 19 million euros in the conversion of a plastic packaging sorting platform.
  • 15 million euros were injected by Citeo and 4 million by the Suez group
  • The extension of sorting rules to all household packaging has been mandatory in France since January 1, 2023.
  • The over-sorting center in Epinal is designed to sort four main types of plastic: colored PET, opaque PET, PET trays and polystyrene.
  • 25,000 tonnes of plastic, mainly from the eastern part of France, should be over-sorted each year in Epinal.
  • The Epinal site is the second over-sorting center to be built in France, after Bourgogne Recyclage and before Environnement Massif Central, which is due to open in mid-2024.
  • The recycled plastics leaving the Epinal center will be recycled in France or in neighboring countries.
  • Starting in 2025, Carbios will process multilayer PET trays at its future Longlaville plant.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Paprec Groupe
Véolia Groupe
Suez Groupe
Eastman
Loop Industries
Earthwake Entreprise
Skytech
&Repeat
Galloo Recycling
Plasticlean
Recyclex
Plastus

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