Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Clear, Colored), By End-use (Fiber, Strapping, Food & Beverage Containers And Bottles), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global recycled polyethylene terephthalate market size was valued at USD 9.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2023 to 2030. The market growth is primarily driven by rising concerns about sustainability, regulations aimed at plastic waste reduction, and initiatives to improve the circular economy in regions such as North America and Europe, which are likely to drive market demand over the forecast period.

A complete ban on landfills or stringent restrictions have been introduced in several developed nations in North America and Europe. This includes countries 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 UK and Australia. These countries are likely to introduce a range of restrictions via legislation in the next few years.

Landfills are classified by the type of garbage, the source of the waste, and the quality 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., Fiber led the end-use segment 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 rising demand for PET bottles in detergents, floor & window cleaners, hair care products, and personal care items, the non-food containers & bottles category is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period.

The primary factor driving recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) demand in the region is its broad application scope in several key application industries such as FMCG, consumer goods, clothing & textile, and automotive. Various government initiatives aimed at the recycling of plastics coupled with high investments have resulted in a decent rPET industry 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.

Rising demand for electric vehicles in the country is likely to augment the need for lightweight and durable plastic components to enhance vehicle efficiency. This, in turn, is projected to propel the demand for recycled PET over the forecast period. Recycled PET is heavily 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 increased demand for recycled PET bumpers, mattresses, and other auto components from OEMs.

Application Insights

The fiber was the dominant application segment that accounted for over 44.0% of the market volume in 2022. High demand from FMCG, consumer goods, automobiles, clothing & accessories, textile, telecom, and home furnishing sectors are 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 & 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 & accessories market, which, in turn, are 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 increased sports activities in the region, especially in China and India.

An increase in bottle-to-bottle production and growth of the beverages market in the Asia Pacific are expected to drive the rPET market over the forecast period. Recycled PET packaging for food & 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 Latin 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 extremely 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.

A huge 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 offer limited scope for development in terms of construction activities. These factors are predicted to boost the demand for recycled PET.

Product Insights

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 witness a high growth rate 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 changes in color, fungal growth, and chemical reaction due to inadequate storage conditions.

Although, 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. But, due to difficulties in recycling colored PET, the use and disposal of colored PET bottles remain a significant barrier in major European countries like Germany, Norway, and Sweden among others.

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. High amounts of colored PET in recycling feedstock increases processing costs and manufacturing costs of rPET, impacting the margins of recyclers.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific was the largest rPET market in 2022 and is anticipated to continue to be the largest region in terms of market shares over the forecast period. This market accounted for over 44.0% market share in 2022. 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 market growth over the forecast period.

The increasing demand for food and non-food bottles across a large number of end-use industries and the growing economies is the major factor driving the demand for rPET in Latin America. Increasing per capita income coupled with the growing FMCG industry is helping the rPET industry 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 rPET market place a high emphasis on expanding their global footprint 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.

For instance, InDecember 2022, Placon launched a new recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)-made deli product line. Dubbed Crystal Seal Cravings, the deli product line is built using post-consumer rPET materials that will help meet sustainability goals. Cravings products are ideal for food items including veggies, cold deli, fresh-cut fruits, and more. The global market is significantly fragmented in nature owing to the presence of a large number of manufacturers across the globe. Some prominent players in the global recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) 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 MarketReport Scope

Global Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of 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, 2018 - 2030)

  • Clear

  • Colored

• End-Use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Fiber

  • Sheet and Film

  • Strapping

  • Food & Beverage Containers and Bottles

  • Non-Food Containers and Bottles

  • Others  

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • Sweden

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • The Netherlands

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Malaysia

    • Singapore

    • Thailand

    • Vietnam

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • United Arab Emirates (UAE)

    • South Africa