Italy leads in plastic recycling, but the supply chain faces a crisis.

Italy confirms its position as one of the most virtuous European countries in plastic recycling, with a supply chain that has worked effectively so far. However, this leadership is at risk of being compromised by a structural issue: the capacity of treatment plants may soon no longer be sufficient to handle the volume of material to be recycled.

The paradox is that Italy is also the world's largest consumer of plastic mineral water bottles, a fact that increases pressure on the collection and recycling system. The situation, if not addressed, could lead to a crisis in the sector despite the excellence achieved so far.

The recycling of plastic has become a crucial topic globally to reduce pollution and waste accumulation. Over time, Italy has developed a recycling supply chain considered among the most efficient in Europe, achieving high recovery rates. This success is the result of investments, regulations, and a growing environmental awareness.

However, the capacity of recycling plants has not grown at the same pace as plastic consumption, particularly of water bottles, of which Italy is the world's largest consumer. This gap between recycling demand (the amount of plastic to be treated) and supply (plant capacity) constitutes the critical issue. If new plants are not built or existing ones are not upgraded, the system risks collapse, undermining the positive results achieved so far and jeopardizing the entire green supply chain of the country.