PLASTICS CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR Packaging sector Compared with other sectors, the packaging sector remains the largest consumer of plastics. In 1999, 13.464.000 tones of plastics, approximately 40% of total plastics applications, were used for packaging. This includes primary (sales packaging), secondary (grouped packaging) and tertiary (transport packaging) applications. Primary packaging accounts for the large majority of all plastics packaging used by consumers and industry. Polyethylene (PE) dominates the packaging market, accounting for 56% by weight of all packaging produced by processors. Five other plastics - polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) - cover most of the remaining 44% (APME (2001): Plastics in Packaging). Building and construction sector During 1995, 4.89 million tones (20% of the total amount of plastics used) were required by the building and construction sector. Compared to other materials the total volume of plastics used is small but they make a significant contribution to a huge variety of applications. Plastics’ versatility combined with their durability, strength, cost effectiveness, low maintenance and corrosion resistance make them a resource-efficient choice. From roof to cellar, plastics play a vital role in creating more sustainable buildings (APME (1998): Plastics - A material of choice in building and construction. Plastic consumption and recovery in Western Europe 1995). Automotive sector Due to new developments their usage is steadily increasing. Whereas an average new car in 1984 contained 8.5% by weight of plastics a similar car today contains about 11%. In 2000, throughout Europe, some 8 million ELV’s were treated. By the year 2015 this total will have risen to about 12 million vehicles. This resulted in about 700,000 tons of waste plastic in 2000 which will rise to 1.3 million tons in 2015 (APME (1999): Plastics - A material of choice in building and construction. Plastic consumption and recovery in Western Europe). E&E Sector Plastics are increasingly the material of choice in the E&E sector. In 1980, on average, plastics made up 15% by weight of all E&E equipment. By 2000, this had risen to 20%. Designers specify plastics because of their performance benefits and efficient use of resources: weight reduction, miniaturization, electrical and thermal insulation. Advanced features such as high-density data and storage systems require plastics materials during the processing and application phase. In 2000, 13.574.000 tones of electrical and electronic goods, including cables and electrical equipment were produced in Western Europe, an annual increase of 4.3% since 1995. This included 2.670.000 tonnes of plastics. According to APME, 1.483.000 tones of plastics were used in Western Europe for E&E in 2000. Excluding cables and electrical equipment, three major sectors - large household appliances, IT/telecommuni¬cations, and consumer equipment – account for over 85% of the plastics used in the E&E sector. On average, plastics account for almost 20% by weight of electrical and electronic equipment. The consumption of plastics in the E&E sector generally depends
on the use of electrical and electronic equipment and demographics
of each country. Germany, France, the UK and Italy are the largest
consumers, as illustrated in Figure 1, together accounting for
almost 80% of the plastics used in E&E equipment in Western
Europe. The broad range of plastics used in E&E equipment is
needed to meet the different demands of a variety of appliances.
Often individual pieces of equipment contain small quantities of
many different plastics. Large household appliances are the exception.
Here polypropylene (PP) and polyurethane (PU) insulation account
for 57% of plastics consumption. ABS is used extensively in the
expanding IT and telecommunications sector for computer
housings and telephone handsets. This sector accounts for 63%of
ABS consumption and the 72% increase in consumption since 1995.
Total consumption of PVC in the E&E industry is 474.000 tonnes
when including the PVC used in cables installed in buildings. The
main growth has been seen in the most innovative sectors driving
forward economic growth in Europe. In 1995, data processing accounted
for only 5% of plastics consumption in the E&E sector, yet
by 2000 it stands for 29%. In the IT and telecommunications sector,
consumption has increased from 337.000 tones in 1995 to 595.000
tones in 2000. This is not simply due to the rapid expansion of
the sector – the amount of plastics used in IT and telecommunications
equipment is also increasing, making up 26% of the materials used
in 2000, compared to 17% in 1995. In 1995, large household appliances
used the most plastics. Although this is still growing, by 2000
IT and telecommunications were using more plastic than any other
E&E sector (APME (2001): Plastics - A material of innovation
for the electrical & electronic industry. Insight into consumption
and recovery in Western Europe 2000).
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