A new report on the strategic role of plastics in Italian industry has recently been published. It was produced by The European House Ambrosetti – TEHA Group in collaboration with leading organisations in the sector, including the Italian Rubber and Plastics Federation, COREPLA, Unionplast, Federchimica, Amaplast and, for the first time this year, IPPR. The report provides an up-to-date snapshot of the sector and proposes concrete solutions to make it more competitive and sustainable within the current European context.
The plastics sector remains a cornerstone of the Italian economy. In 2023, it generated over €58 billion in turnover and employed around 164,000 people, surpassing even the automotive sector in terms of employment. Italy also ranks second in Europe in terms of the value of output from the plastics industry, just behind Germany, and first in terms of the number of active companies.
In recent years, however, companies in the sector have had to contend with a growing volume of environmental regulations introduced by the European Union, with increasingly stringent rules on production, recycling and sustainability. The authors of the report have described this complex landscape as a veritable ‘regulatory tsunami’. Yet it is precisely these challenges that can become opportunities, thanks to new European policies aimed at revitalising industrial competitiveness in a sustainable manner.
A key element of the report is the strategic role of recycling. According to projections, targeted investment could enable Italy to recycle up to 45% of the plastic required for domestic production by 2040. In addition to mechanical recycling, it will be essential to develop chemical recycling, which is capable of processing more complex waste, and to maximise the reuse of raw materials within an increasingly circular supply chain. The potential is enormous, but vision, resources and bureaucratic simplification are needed.
Among the proposals put forward, one concerns the regulatory recognition of the mass balance method, which is now considered essential for promoting chemical recycling. This is a system that allows for the transparent calculation and attribution of the amount of recycled raw material contained in end products, even when production processes involve a mix of virgin and recycled materials. This approach is already used in other sectors, such as biofuels, and is crucial for ensuring transparency and reliability in industrial processes.
The study identifies fifteen priority measures to support this transformation, including the simplification of authorisation procedures for new facilities, incentives for those who use recycled plastic, a reform of the producer responsibility system, and a genuine national plastics strategy capable of guiding the transition at the level of industrial districts.
Another significant figure relates to exports: in 2024, the sector exported goods worth around €25 billion, accounting for 4.2% of Italy’s manufacturing exports. Over two-thirds of exports are destined for the European market, confirming the importance of integration with the EU for the competitiveness of our businesses.
The report also highlights the extent to which the sector is capable of generating value for the economy as a whole. For every €100 invested in the plastics sector, over €200 is generated across the entire production chain and related services. Conversely, failing to invest could have serious consequences: according to the scenario developed by TEHA, without measures to support the sector, Italy risks losing up to €4.7 billion in added value and 55,000 jobs within the next few years.
The bottom line is clear: plastic can be part of the solution to environmental challenges, provided it is managed with foresight, innovation and clear rules. The future of the industry depends on its ability to combine sustainability with competitiveness .
