Statistics
Every year, we are getting better at recycling together. The interest in recycling has never been stronger, according to our latest statistics.
We have statistics that both show how good the Swedish residents are at sorting their packaging and leaving it to our collection service, and how much of it that gets recycled and can become new packaging and products.
Collected material 2023
Collection statistics
49
kg packaging per person
515 000
tonnes of packaging
Material collected shows the amount of packaging collected from households via FTI’s recycling stations and curbside collection services.
Statistics for 2023
The figures refer to kg/person.
About the collection statistics
The collection statistics are based on reported amounts of packaging that Swedish households have left for recycling at one of FTI's approximately 5,000 recycling stations in the country, or from the approximately two million households with property collection, where the packaging has been collected by FTI. The material we collected was taken care of and recycled by our owners. At the recycling facilities, the material was sorted so that as much as possible can be recycled into new packaging or products.
Recycling rate 2022
Material recycling
-
65%
of all packaging is recycled to make new product (The Swedish government’s targets for 2029)
-
65%
of all packaging was recycled to make new products (our owners result 2022)
The recycling rate shows how much packaging has been recycled and used to make new products.
Under the Swedish government’s new targets, which are more ambitious than those set by the EU, at least 65 percent of all packaging placed on the market must be recycled to make new products. The new statistics for 2022 from FTI’s owners show that the overall recycling rate for glass, paper, plastic and metal packaging was 65 (64,6) percent. While we are very close to reaching the national target, we have still a way to go in order to reach the specific recycling targets for plastic and paper packaging. These targets can be achieved by increasing collection and recycling rates and boosting innovation.
Recycling rate per material 2022
86%
Glass
68%
Paper
19%
Plastic
86%
Metal (steel)
64%
Metal (aluminum)
More statistics for recycling rates and what the figures mean
On this page, we present recycling statistics from FTI’s owners (Svensk Plaståtervinning, Returkartong, Svensk Glasåtervinning and Metallkretsen) for the 2022 operational year.
Recycling rate 2022 (2021)
| GLASS | PAPER | PLASTIC | METAL (STEEL) |
METAL (ALUMINUM) |
TOTAL PACKAGING WASTE | |
| National target for 2029, total – household and commercial packaging | 90% | 85% | 50% | 70% | 50% | 65% |
| Recycling rate – household packaging* | 86% (84%)* | 68% (72%) | 19% (18%) | 86% (90%) | 64% (72%) | 65% (67%) |
| Recycling rate total – household and commercial packaging* | 86% (84%)* | 78% (82%) | 33% (32%) | 83% (85%) | 68% (67%) | 70% (70%) |
* For glass packaging, collection from households and businesses takes place in the same flow.
Material quality 2022
-
1/5
of the materials we collect have not been sorted correctly at source
Sampling carried out in 2022 showed that up to one fifth of FTI’s collected material had been sorted incorrectly. Some packaging had been placed in the wrong recycling bins, as well as waste that wasn’t packaging. The incorrectly sorted materials included toys, electronics, frying pans and gift-wrapping ribbon that should have been taken to staffed municipal recycling centers or placed in household waste.
By sampling, we obtain an overall view of the quality of the paper, plastic and metal packaging that FTI collected. We worked to reduce the amount of incorrectly sorted packaging by:
- Clear labels on packaging and recycling bins
- The Sorting Guide – makes it easy to sort correctly
- Information campaigns and material for consumers and companies
More about sampling
Material quality statistics, 2022 (2021)
| Packaging | Non-packaging | Waste | |
| Plastic packaging | 73% (75,4%) | 12% (12%)9 | 15% (12,6%) |
| Paper packaging | 84,4% (85,7%) | 10% (9,7%) | 5,6% (4,7%) |
| Metal packaging | 64,6% (64,8%) | 21,6% (22%) | 13,8% (13,2%) |
2023 Recycling Barometer
Årlig undersökning
-
9 out of 10
think it is important to recycle packaging
-
76 %
recycle to contribute to a better environment
-
7 out of 10
think it is easy to know how to sort their packaging
Every year, the Recycling Barometer was conducted to examine Sweden’s residents’ recycling habits and attitudes to recycling. The survey was conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of FTI. The survey for 2023 show that nine out of ten respondents think it is important to recycle packaging.
Among the households that took part in the survey, 7 out of 10 think that it is easy or very easy to sort packaging. 6 out of 10 state that they know that it is an obligation to sort out packaging.
Household packaging only
Among the households that took part in the survey, 36% are not aware that you can only leave household packaging made of glass, paper, plastic or metal at the recycling stations. Many of those who sort incorrectly are unsure of what is and is not a package.
We are good but can be better
The recycling barometer shows that we are good at source sorting and recycling in Sweden, but we can get better. Even more packaging needs to be sorted out, especially paper and plastic. Sorting ones packaging at source is an easy way to make a difference. Each package counts and contributes to a more sustainable world.
More results from the Recycling Barometer
More figures
Find more statistics
You can also find national statistics on recycling targets for packaging and packaging waste on the EPA’s website.