July 22, 2025 16:28
Italy’s plastics industry risks significant decline in competitiveness, added value and employment unless urgent measures are adopted, according to a new study by TEHA Group. Commissioned by a coalition of industry associations and consortia, the report updates a 2022 analysis and reflects current macroeconomic pressures and evolving EU policy—including the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the Clean Industrial Deal and the Omnibus Package.
Titled "The Plastics Industry in Italy: Strategy and Action Plan to Support Competitiveness and Circularity", the study is available for download (in Italian) and presents revised findings and recommendations for sustaining Italy’s plastics value chain.
Once again, the study confirms the strategic role of the sector, which generates €58.4 billion in annual turnover—equal to 4.9% of Italy’s total manufacturing output—and contributes €15.3 billion in added value.
The industry employs 164,000 people directly and ranks second in the EU-27 after Germany, which exceeds €120 billion in turnover. Italy also leads the EU by number of firms, with 8,623 companies compared with Germany’s 6,673. In scale, the sector is comparable to the Italian automotive industry.
The report assesses investment returns in plastics industry, noting that every €100 invested produces €193 in indirect and €25 in induced impact, yielding a total of €218 and a multiplier of 3.18.
It also tracks revenue performance across five years for key segments—converting, machinery, recycling and plastics production—and analyzes intra-EU trade. Special focus is given to circular economy strategies, bioplastics and the interplay between mechanical and chemical recycling.
On recycling, the authors highlight how mechanical and chemical processes are complementary. A projected €2.6 billion investment in chemical recycling could process 13.6% of Italy’s plastic waste. When combined with mechanical recycling, it could meet up to 70% of national raw material demand by 2040.
The study outlines 15 policy recommendations, grouped into three categories:
Key proposals include: Regulatory recognition of the mass balance approach in chemical recycling; Mandatory quotas for recycled and biobased content in products; A national strategy for plastics; and A public-private fund to finance circular transition initiatives.
A scenario modeling the impact of pro-competitive reform suggests Italy’s plastics sector could boost added value by €3 billion (+20%), reaching €18.3 billion. Broader economic benefits could include up to €10 billion in national impact and the creation of more than 83,000 new jobs (+18%).
Without action, however, the report warns the sector could shrink by €4.7 billion in added value (–30%) and lose up to 55,000 jobs (–33%) over the next few years.
The report was commissioned by a coalition of stakeholders, including:
Federchimica – PlasticsEurope Italia; Federazione Gomma Plastica – Unionplast; Amaplast; PVC Forum Italia; IIPR – Institute for the Promotion of Recycled Plastics; Corepla; Biorepack; Arkema; Basell Poliolefine Italia; BASF Italia; COIM; SABIC Italia; and Versalis.
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