Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Clear, Colored), By End-use (Fiber, Food & Beverage Containers And Bottles), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global recycled polyethylene terephthalate market size was valued at USD 9.40 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% from 2022 to 2030. Factors including the rising concerns over sustainability, reduced plastic waste, and initiatives to improve the circular economy in North America and Europe are likely to drive the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) market demand over the forecast period.

The ban on landfills or restrictions has been introduced in several developed nations in North America and Europe such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Belgium, and several states in the U.S. and Canadian provinces. In Europe, landfill bans have existed for decades. Furthermore, plans are being developed in the U.K. and Australia has legislated the introduction of a range of bans in the next few years.

Landfills are classified by the type of garbage, the source of the waste, and the qualities of the waste. The ban is determined by the source or waste stream in the waste source category. A waste type is defined as a specific sort of waste. The ban is based on particular biological or physical features, such as biodegradability, combustibility, or total organic carbon value, in the case of waste properties.

In the U.S., the fiber end-use segment led the market in terms of both revenue and volume in 2021. Most of the fiber is used to make clothing such as jerseys and T-shirts. However, due to the rising demand for PET bottles in detergents, floor and window cleaners, hair care products, and personal care items, the non-food containers and bottles category is predicted to expand at the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period.

The primary factor driving rPET demand in the region is its broad application scope in several key application industries such as FMCG, consumer goods, clothing and textile, and automotive. Various government initiatives toward the recycling of plastics, coupled with high investments, have resulted in the decent growth of the market in the region. Despite significant investments, most post-consumer PET bottles are majorly exported to Southeast Asian countries for recycling and then re-imported to the respective country in North America in the form of new bottles produced from recycled PET.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, single-use plastics account for half of all plastic demand in the country. The U.S. has a low plastic recycling rate since the country's plastic waste is exported to other countries for recycling. After the recent prohibition on plastic garbage imports in China, the U.S. is exporting its plastic waste to Southeast Asian countries.

The rising demand for electric vehicles in the country is likely to augment the need for lightweight and durable plastic components in order to enhance vehicle efficiency. This, in turn, is projected to propel the demand for recycled PET over the forecast period. Recycled PET is significantly used in the production of sofa covers, mattresses, and textiles in the U.S. The U.S. has a robust automobile manufacturing sector, which paves the way for the increased demand for recycled PET bumpers, mattresses, and other auto components from OEMs.

End-use Insights

Fiber accounted for the largest volume share of over 40.0% in 2021. High demand from the FMCG, consumer goods, automobiles, clothing and accessories, textile, telecom, and home furnishing sectors is contributing to the growth of the market. Fiber is predominantly used for making mattresses, cushions, car seating, and even insulation products.

Various types of clothing such as t-shirts and jackets use fiber produced from recycled PET. It is also used in the manufacturing of automobile seat covers, sofa and chair seat covers, and carpets. The low production cost of clothing and favorable government regulations are expected to drive the demand for recycled PET.

Increasing investments in sports activities globally are augmenting the growth of the sports clothing and accessories market, which, in turn, is expected to drive the demand for recycled PET fibers. Jerseys for sports teams are the most common type of products manufactured using recycled PET fiber. The demand for jerseys has witnessed a strong growth in Asia Pacific over the past 10 years owing to the increased sports activities in the region, especially in China and India.

An increase in bottle-to-bottle production and the growth of the beverages market in Asia Pacific are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Recycled PET packaging for food and beverages provides thermal insulation and environmental impact resistance. The packaging also proves to be cost-effective owing to the low cost involved in its production. The growing population in the emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Central and South America is expected to drive the demand for rPET bottles and containers.

The demand for sheets and films in roof flooring is increasing as they help in limiting leakage and save buildings from extreme high and low temperatures. They also give a smooth texture to the roof and require less quantity of paint and cement for achieving the finished look with improved aesthetic appeal. An increase in the use of rPET sheets has been observed in developed regions such as North America and Europe. Mall owners are predicted to target developing cities for further development as urban cities are close to drenching in terms of construction activities. These factors are predicted to boost the demand for recycled PET.

Product Insights

The clear segment held the largest revenue share of over 75.0% in 2021. Low energy requirements and ease of bottle-to-bottle recycling are expected to drive the clear recycled PET market over the forecast period. The clear rPET segment is expected to register a high growth rate over the forecast period owing to its durability, lightweight, non-reactive, and shatterproof properties.

Clear type is the most used rPET owing to its widespread use in food and non-food applications and the low cost of processing associated with it. Most manufacturers prefer clear granules or flakes to produce containers and bottles, as opposed to opaque or colored PET. In addition, clear rPET products help in the easy detection of variations of the product inside, such as a change in color, fungal growth, and chemical reaction due to the inadequate storage conditions.

Colored PET has witnessed a surge in demand in recent years, with various packaging and bottle manufacturers trying to differentiate their products with eye-pleasing colors. However, due to difficulties in recycling colored PET, the use and disposal of colored PET bottles have been facing a significant barrier in major European countries like Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

Recent trends in the market have shown that milk and personal care packaging manufacturers are shifting from HDPE to colored rPET to cut down on costs and move toward sustainability. However, the growing use of colored PET is anticipated to create problems for recyclers as it is difficult and expensive to process colored PET. The high amount of colored PET in recycling feedstock increases processing costs and manufacturing costs of rPET, thereby impacting the margins of recyclers.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific held the largest revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021 and is projected to continue to be the largest over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is characterized by the availability of a significant amount of skilled labor at low cost and the easy availability of land. The shift in the production landscape toward emerging economies, particularly China and India, is expected to positively influence the market growth over the forecast period.

The increasing demand for food and non-food bottles across a large number of the end-use industries and the growing economies are the major factors driving the demand for rPET in Central and South America. Increasing per capita income, coupled with the growing FMCG industry, is helping the rPET market flourish in the region.

The landfill ban has been in place for decades in many European countries such as France, Germany, Austria, and Denmark. High landfill tipping fees, functional waste management systems, dumping tariffs, and closing costs of landfills have encouraged the locals to switch to rPET products in the region. Zero Waste Europe is an organization, which works with the European Commission to bring residual waste close to zero.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Companies operating in the global market lay high emphasis on expanding their global footprints in an attempt to drive their revenues and increase market shares. Companies are expanding their services in Asia Pacific and Europe to cater to the rising demand for sustainable products. The ban on the import of plastic waste from around the world by the government of China is expected to create lucrative opportunities for market players in Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, over the forecast period. The global market is found to be significantly fragmented owing to the presence of a large number of manufacturers across the globe. Some prominent players in the global recycled polyethylene terephthalate market include:

• PLACON

• Clear Path Recycling LLC

• Verdeco Recycling, Inc.

• Indorama Ventures Public Ltd.

• Zhejiang Anshun Pettechs Fibre Co., Ltd.

• PolyQuest

• Evergreen Plastics, Inc.

• Phoenix Technologies

• Libolon

• Biffa 

Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global recycled polyethylene terephthalate market report based on product, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Clear

  • Colored

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Fiber

  • Sheet and Film

  • Strapping

  • Food & Beverage Containers and Bottles

  • Non-food Containers and Bottles

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • Sweden

    • U.K.

    • Rest of Europe

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Rest of APAC

  • Central & South America

    • Mexico

    • Rest of Central & South America

  • Middle East & Africa

    • GCC Countries

    • South Africa

    • Rest of MEA