Global Recycling Rates Decline as Consumption Soars, Report Warns

Global recycling efforts are failing to keep pace with escalating consumption driven by economic growth and consumerism, a new report has revealed.

Researchers from the Circle Economy thinktank found that only 6.9% of the 106 billion tonnes of materials used annually are recycled back into the supply chain—a decline for the eighth consecutive year.

This figure marks a 2.2 percentage point drop since 2015, underscoring a growing disconnect between recycling initiatives and ever-increasing material use. The report blames a systemic issue: while some companies are making progress in using more recycled inputs, most continue to rely on virgin resources without facing consequences.

Even under ideal conditions where all recyclable goods are reused—a highly unlikely scenario due to the complexity and cost of recycling many products—recycling could only meet about 25% of global material demand. Experts argue that reducing consumption is the only viable path to mitigating the world’s mounting waste crisis.

Ivonne Bojoh, chief executive of Circle Economy, said: ‘‘Our analysis is clear: even in the ideal world, we cannot solve the triple planetary crisis by mere recycling. The much-needed systemic change requires fundamental change.

“This means unlocking circular potential in stocks like buildings and infrastructure, managing biomass sustainably and stopping sending perfectly renewable materials to landfills.

“This change doesn’t happen outside ourselves. We all need to make different choices, be bold, and invest to implement circular solutions across value chains.”

Between 2018 and 2021, recycled material use in manufacturing rose by 200 million tonnes, largely thanks to increased awareness. However, this has been dwarfed by the accelerated use of virgin materials, which continue to dominate global production.

Raw material extraction has more than tripled in the past 50 years, now surpassing 100 billion tonnes annually. Without major intervention, this is projected to increase by 60% by 2060. Per capita consumption has also climbed, rising from 8.4 tonnes in 1970 to 12.2 tonnes in 2020.

But the report highlights stark inequalities: individuals in high-income countries consume six times more than those in lower-income nations—24 tonnes versus 4 tonnes per person.

Despite representing just 10% of the global population, the EU and US together account for over half of the world’s material consumption.

To address the issue, the report urges the creation of global circular economy targets that not only boost recycling rates but also reduce material and energy demand. It also proposes establishing an International Materials Agency, similar to the International Energy Agency, to help governments track sustainable resource use and drive progress on circular economy goals.

“The shift to a circular economy cannot happen without the right policy environment and government action that phases out wasteful practices and promotes and supports smarter ways of meeting people’s needs,” the report says.

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