Plastics demand by sector (2015)

Since they first entered industrial production in 1907, plastics have pervaded consumer goods and modern life. In 2014, 311 million tonnes of plastics were produced globally, 20 times more than in 1964. Plastics production is forecast to double by 2036 and almost quadruple by 2050. Demand for plastics in Europe was 49 million tonnes in 2015, with almost 40 % used in packaging (see Figure 1)