Recycled Plastic Granules Market Size to Hit USD 4.43 Bn by 2031

Recycled Plastic Granules Market Size and Trends

The global recycled plastic granules market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.25 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.43 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2024 to 2031.

Recycled Plastic Granules Market key Factors

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Strict government regulations and rules regarding plastic waste disposal and rising awareness about environmental protection are driving more companies to use recycled plastic granules. The market is witnessing positive trends owing to the implementation of stringent laws prohibiting the use of virgin plastics and landfill disposal of plastic waste across various countries. Moreover, sustainable production practices and focus on circular economy is further buttressing the demand for recycled plastic granules from industries such as construction, automotive, and packaging.

Recycled Plastic Granules Market By Product Type

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Insights By Product Type - PP Granules Segment Leads Due to Wide Range of Applications

In terms of product type, PP granules segment is expected to contribute 35.4% share of the market in 2024, owing to their versatility and widespread usage. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer that can be easily recycled and reprocessed. It possesses desirable properties such as resistance to moisture, chemicals, and microorganisms. These characteristics make PP highly suitable for varied applications. The versatility of PP granules, coupled with advancements in recycling technologies, is expected to maintain their market leadership in the coming years.

Insights By Application - Automotive Remains the Largest Consumer of Recycled Plastic Granules

In terms of application, the automotive segment is expected to contribute 37.4% share of the market in 2024. Rising vehicular production and stricter environmental regulations are key growth drivers. Automakers actively pursue light-weighting to improve fuel efficiency without compromising safety. Plastic components help achieve this goal while retaining strength and durability. Recycled plastic granules allow automakers to procure cost-effective, sustainable plastic raw materials.

Regional Insights

Recycled Plastic Granules Market Regional Insights

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Regional Analysis:

Dominating Region: Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is expected to command the largest share of the market, with a projected 45.3% of the market share in 2024. This dominance is driven by strong government policies that promote sustainability and waste reduction. Additionally, the region benefits from a significant presence of major recycling companies and a well-established infrastructure for waste collection and sorting, creating an ideal environment for large-scale plastic recycling.

Fastest-Growing Region: Europe

Europe exhibits the fastest growth, driven by a rapidly expanding plastic manufacturing industry alongside rising environmental consciousness. Countries like the U.K. and Germany are aggressively focusing on developing domestic recycling capabilities to meet the growing need for recycled feedstock.

Recycled Plastic Granules Market Outlook for Key Countries

Sustainable Packaging Demand and Government Initiatives in the U.S.

The U.S. leads the global recycled plastic granules market, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions. In December 2023, Coca-Cola announced the launch of a fully-recycled PET bottle, reinforcing the trend toward circular economies. The U.S. government has also prioritized plastic waste management through initiatives like the “Save Our Seas 2.0” plan, aiming to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling efforts.

Germany Dominates the Europe Recycled Plastic Granules Market with Strict Recycling Laws and Technological Innovation

Germany remains a dominant player in the Europe recycled plastic granules market due to stringent recycling laws and technological advancements in waste processing. For instance, according to European Parliament report in June 2024, the total plastic waste produced in the EU in 2021 was 16,13 million tons. Around 6,56 million tons of plastic waste were recycled. In September 2023, BASF announced an investment in advanced recycling technology to boost the use of recycled plastics in production.

China Drives the Asia Pacific Recycled Plastic Granules Market Growth with Strong Government Support and New Policies

China is a key driver in the Asia Pacific recycled plastic granules market, with strong governmental support for recycling initiatives. In March 2023, the Chinese government introduced a new policy mandating that plastic packaging be made from at least 50% recycled materials by 2025. This is expected to significantly boost the demand for recycled plastic granules.

Government Investments in Recycling Infrastructure in India Drives Market Growth

The India recycled plastic granules market is growing rapidly, driven by a rising focus on sustainability and plastic waste management. In 2024, the Indian government allocated US$ 59 million to improve plastic waste recycling infrastructure as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance recycling capacity and demand for recycled granules.

Japan Boosts the Recycled Plastic Granules Market Growth with Innovation and Government Support for Circular Economy Initiatives

Japan is a leading market for recycled plastic granules due to its innovative recycling technologies. The Japanese government has implemented a policy requiring all plastic packaging to be recyclable by 2025. In February 2024, Mitsubishi Chemical announced a collaboration with Tokio Marine & Nichido and ABT, a recycling firm, to produce high-quality recycled plastic pellets for use in automotive manufacturing.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

Recycled Plastic Granules Market Concentration By Players

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Top Strategies Followed by Global Recycled Plastic Granules Market Players

Established players focus on extensive R&D to innovate new products. Companies like Nexus CirClean Divert and Cleanway invest heavily in R&D to develop high-performance recycled plastic products. They hire expert researchers and engineers to constantly experiment with new recycling technologies, materials science, and product formulations. This helps them stay ahead of competition.
Mid-level players deliver cost-effective, quality solutions. Players like Polyace Polymers and Sojitz focus on being cost-leaders without compromising on quality. They optimize production processes, negotiate bulk material prices and offer competitive product pricing. This targets the large price-sensitive consumer segment looking for value buys.
Small-scale players target niche markets with specialized products. New entrants look at developing solutions for unique industry niches. They closely work with niche customers to deeply understand their micro demands. This helps small players like Envision Plastics and Ecoplastics commercialize innovative products filling specialized needs better than generalized solutions. They leverage digital channels well for new customer outreach.

Emerging Startups in the Global Recycled Plastic Granules Market

Innovative Technologies: Companies are developing smart sensors integrated with AI and IoT. RePolySense has invented a technology using sensor fusion and machine learning algorithms. It collects real-time data on recycling streams to increase sorting accuracy and reduce contamination. Another startup Recyclotron is using robotics, computer vision and machine learning to automate plastic sorting with high efficiency.

Sustainable Solutions: Startups focus on eco-friendly products and closed-loop recycling. Companies like Closed Loop Partners are commercializing bio-based plastic made from food and agricultural waste combined with recycled plastics using novel chemical processes.

Market Contribution: Startups target niche sectors. Agilyx develops plastics-to-fuel technology converting non-recyclable plastics to diesel and gasoline helping reduce landfill waste. Polywood collaborates with furniture brands to manufacture outdoor furniture using recycled plastic lumber helping construction industry achieve sustainability goals.

Key Takeaways from Analyst

Rising concerns about plastic waste and strict government regulations banning single-use plastics have driven significant advancements in the industry. Leading companies are focusing on developing cutting-edge recycling technologies to enhance waste collection and processing efficiency. The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a dominant player in recent years, largely due to export-driven manufacturing industries in countries like China and India, which produce substantial amounts of plastic waste. Europe is also a fast-growing market for recycled plastic granules supported by favorable policies around circular economy initiatives by the European Union.
Regulatory push for higher recycled content in plastic products and packaging will further drive demand. Recycled plastic granules offer an affordable alternative to virgin plastic raw materials. However, inconsistent waste collection infrastructure in developing nations pose challenges to achieve economies of scale in sourcing quality feedstock. Absence of harmonized global standards for recycled plastic products impacts their trade and widespread adoption. Fluctuating recycled plastic prices depending on oil prices also influence procurement decisions of end users.

Market Report Scope

Recycled Plastic Granules Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage	Details
Base Year:	2023	Market Size in 2024:	US$ 3.25 Bn
Historical Data for:	2019 To 2023	Forecast Period:	2024 To 2031
Forecast Period 2024 to 2031 CAGR:	4.5%	2031 Value Projection:	US$ 4.43 Bn
Geographies covered:	North America: U.S., and Canada Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America Europe: Germany, U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Russia, and Rest of Europe Asia Pacific: China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN, and Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East: GCC Countries, Israel, and Rest of Middle East Africa: South Africa, North Africa, and Central Africa
Segments covered:	By Product Type: PP Granules, PE Granules, HDPE Granules, LDPE Granules, Polycarbonate Granules, Polystyrene Granules, and Others By Application: Automotive, Consumer Product, Textile, and Others
Companies covered:	Veolia Environnement S.A., BASF SE, Plastipak Holdings, Inc., Suez Recycling and Recovery, Repreve (Unifi, Inc.), Clear Path Recycling, Green Line Polymers, Customized Polymers, Inc., KW Plastics, EcoStar, A&E Plastics, Inc., Berry Global, Inc., Loop Industries, Inc., RPC Group plc, and Constar International LLC
Growth Drivers:	Increasing government regulations promoting recycling and sustainable practices Growing consumer awareness and demand for eco-friendly products
Restraints & Challenges:	High costs associated with the recycling process and technology Quality concerns regarding the properties of recycled plastics compared to virgin materials

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Market Dynamics

Market Driver - Increasing government regulations promoting recycling and sustainable practices

With growing concerns around plastic waste polluting land and sea, governments across the world are introducing stricter regulations to promote recycling and sustainability. Plastic production has been increasing exponentially each year due to its inexpensive and durable properties. However, most plastic items have a very short use cycle and end up as waste. Landfills are filling up at an alarming rate with plastic waste that takes centuries to decompose. Burning plastic waste releases toxic fumes into the air.

Market Challenge - High costs associated with the recycling process and technology

This market is facing significant challenges due to the high costs associated with plastic recycling process and technology. Recycling plastic requires multiple steps of sorting, cleaning, and processing the used plastic into fluid and feedstock. This recycling process is complex and requires sophisticated machinery. The machinery and equipment needed for sorting, cleaning, and processing used plastic comes with very high initial investment costs. Additionally, the maintenance and operation of these recycling plants incurs substantial operating expenses.

Market Opportunity - Innovations in recycling technologies enhancing efficiency and effectiveness

This market is witnessing significant new opportunities arising from ongoing innovations in recycling technologies. Carbios has developed an enzymatic recycling technology that breaks down PET plastics into their original building blocks, which can then be used to produce new, high-quality plastic. New melt filtration and degradation techniques are helping produce higher quality recycled plastic granules from mixed plastic waste streams. Emerging recycling robotics and automation are optimizing operations and reducing labor costs.

Market Segmentation

Product Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
- PP Granules
- PE Granules
- HDPE Granules
- LDPE Granules
- Polycarbonate Granules
- Polystyrene Granules
- Others
Application Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
- Automotive
- Consumer Product
- Textile
- Others
Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
- North America
  - U.S.
  - Canada
- Latin America
  - Brazil
  - Argentina
  - Mexico
  - Rest of Latin America
- Europe
  - Germany
  - U.K.
  - Spain
  - France
  - Italy
  - Russia
  - Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
  - China
  - India
  - Japan
  - Australia
  - South Korea
  - ASEAN
  - Rest of Asia Pacific
- Middle East
  - GCC Countries
  - Israel
  - Rest of Middle East
- Africa
  - South Africa
  - North Africa
  - Central Africa
Key Players Insights
- Veolia Environnement S.A.
- BASF SE
- Plastipak Holdings, Inc.
- Suez Recycling and Recovery
- Repreve (Unifi, Inc.)
- Clear Path Recycling
- Green Line Polymers
- Customized Polymers, Inc.
- KW Plastics
- EcoStar
- A&E Plastics, Inc.
- Berry Global, Inc.
- Loop Industries, Inc.
- RPC Group plc
- Constar International LLC

About Author

Pankaj Poddar is a seasoned market research consultant with over 12 years of extensive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and plastics material industries. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing from Nirma University, one of India’s reputed institutions, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in strategic marketing and consumer behavior.

As a Senior Consultant at CMI for the past three years, he has been instrumental in harnessing his comprehensive understanding of market dynamics to provide our clients with actionable insights and strategic guidance. Throughout his career, He has developed a robust expertise in several key areas, including market estimation, competitive analysis, and the identification of emerging industry trends. His approach is grounded in a commitment to understanding client needs thoroughly and fostering collaborative relationships. His dedication to excellence and innovation solidifies his role as a trusted advisor in the ever-evolving landscape of not only FMCG but also chemicals and materials markets.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Global recycled plastic granules market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.25 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.43 Bn by 2031.

The CAGR of the global recycled plastic granules market is projected to be 4.5% from 2024 to 2031.

Increasing government regulations promoting recycling and sustainable practices and growing consumer awareness and demand for eco-friendly products are the major factors driving the market growth of recycled plastic granules.

High costs associated with the recycling process and technology and quality concerns regarding the properties of recycled plastics compared to virgin materials are the major factors hampering the market growth of recycled plastic granules.

In terms of product type, PP granules segment is estimated to dominate the market revenue share in 2024.

Veolia Environnement S.A., BASF SE, Plastipak Holdings, Inc., Suez Recycling and Recovery, Repreve (Unifi, Inc.), Clear Path Recycling, Green Line Polymers, Customized Polymers, Inc., KW Plastics, EcoStar, A&E Plastics, Inc., Berry Global, Inc., Loop Industries, Inc., RPC Group plc, and Constar International LLC are the major players.

Asia Pacific is expected to lead the global recycled plastic granules market in 2024.