Recycled Plastics Market Report 2026

The recycled plastics market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $56.17 billion in 2025 to $59.1 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing plastic waste generation, expansion of recycling infrastructure, rising regulatory pressure on plastic usage, growth of packaging industry demand, increased availability of recyclable plastic feedstock.

The recycled plastics market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $71.66 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of circular economy regulations, rising investments in chemical recycling, expansion of recycled plastic applications, growing demand for sustainable packaging materials, continuous improvements in recycling efficiency. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of post-consumer recycled plastics, rising demand for recycled plastics in packaging, growing use in automotive and construction applications, expansion of advanced plastic recycling technologies, enhanced focus on plastic circularity.

The growing demand for packaged food is projected to enhance the growth of the recycled plastics market in the future. Packaged food refers to food products that are processed, prepared, and enclosed in containers or packaging materials prior to being sold to consumers. With increasing environmental concerns regarding plastic waste, the packaged food industry is shifting towards sustainable and recyclable packaging materials, including recycled plastics. For instance, in 2024, SNAC International, a U.S.-based food and beverage organization, reported that the potato chips packaging category reached $8.6 billion, reflecting a 7.7% increase from 2023. Therefore, the rising demand for packaged food is contributing to the expansion of the recycled plastics market.

Leading companies in the recycled plastics market are concentrating on innovative solutions such as integrating chemically recycled feedstock to reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics and promote sustainable production. Chemical recycling transforms post-consumer or post-industrial plastic waste into high-quality feedstock that can be reused in conventional manufacturing processes, ensuring that the final products retain the same performance and durability as traditional plastics. For example, in February 2024, BASF SE, a Germany-based chemical company, launched its ChemCycling initiative in the United States, producing Ccycled plastics from recycled waste. These products are applied in areas ranging from engineering plastics to polyurethane components, allowing manufacturers to incorporate advanced recycled content while maintaining product performance and supporting a circular economy.

In December 2024, Revolution Sustainable Solutions, a U.S.-based company specializing in sustainable materials and recycling solutions, acquired Island Plastics, LLC for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Revolution aims to enhance its capacity to produce high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) film-grade resins, particularly to support clear, food-grade recycled packaging materials and expand its sustainable materials portfolio. Island Plastics LLC is a U.S.-based mechanical recycling company that processes post-consumer waste to produce PCR resin suitable for flexible food-grade packaging and other film applications.

Major companies operating in the recycled plastics market are Rethmann SE & Co. KG, Biffa Waste Services Limited, Veolia India Private Limited, Jayplas Limited, KW Plastics, MBA Polymers Inc, Waste Connections Inc., Plastic Recycling Inc., UltrePET LLC, Greenotech Recycling Private Limited, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc., Alpek S.A.B. de C.V., B&B Plastics Recycling Inc., CABKA North America Inc., CarbonLite Industries LLC, Custom Polymers Inc., Delta Plastics of the South LLC, ECO-Cycle Solutions LLC, Emco Industrial Plastics Inc., Envision Plastics LLC, Far Eastern New Century Corporation, EcoGreen Technologies LLC.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the recycled plastics market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the recycled plastics market share during the forecast period. The regions covered in the recycled plastics market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the recycled plastics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The recycled plastic market consists of sales of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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