FTI is Förpackningsinsamlingen (the Packaging Collection Service). Our assignment is to collect packaging so it can be recycled.
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 2021
Collection statistics
53
kg packaging per person
2,4
million recycling bins filled
552 600
tonnes of newspapers and packaging
Material collected shows the amount of packaging collected from households via FTI’s recycling stations and curbside collection services.
Statistics for Sweden (national)
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 is collected by FTI. The material we collect is taken care of and recycled by our owners. At the recycling facilities, the material is sorted so that as much as possible can be recycled into new packaging or products.
Collection rate
From our producers
94%
Glass
80%
Metal
79%
Paper
47%
Plastic
The collection rate shows the amount of material placed on the market by FTI-affiliated companies that has been collected for either recycling or energy recovery. Energy recovery refers to the incineration and conversion of non-recyclable materials into district heating and electricity.
More information and statistics from prior years
All of the materials we collect from our recycling stations and curbside collection services are sent to various recycling facilities where they are sorted for further processing into new products or for energy recovery.
Recycling rate
Material recycling
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65%
of all packaging is recycled to make new product (The Swedish government’s targets for 2020)
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72%
of all packaging was recycled to make new products (Our result 2020)
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 2020 from FTI’s owners show that the overall recycling rate for glass, paper, plastic and metal packaging was 72 percent. While the overall recycling rate exceeds the target, we have still not achieved 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
94%
Glass
77%
Paper
28%
Plastic
87%
Metal (steel)
56%
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 2020 operational year.
Recycling rate (%)
| GLASS | PAPER | PLASTIC | METAL (STEEL) |
METAL (ALUMINUM) |
NEWSPAPERS | TOTAL PACKAGING WASTE |
|
| Total recycling statistics 2020* | 94% | 77% | 28% | 87% | 56% | 89,6% | 72% |
| Household recycling statistics | 94% | 66% | 15% | 93% | 53% | ||
| Commercial recycling statistics | 94% | 84% | 46% | 81% | 84% | ||
| The Swedish government’s targets for 2020 | 90% | 85% | 50% | 70% | 50% | 90% | 65% |
* Refers to the proportion of the amount of packaging that has been placed on the market and reported to FTI, which has been collected and recycled into recycled raw material.
Recycling rate, tonnes
| GLASS | PAPER | PLASTIC | METAL (STEEL) |
METAL (ALUMINUM) |
NEWSPAPERS | TOTAL PACKAGING WASTE |
|
| Put on the market 2020 (tonnes) | 233 001 | 561 546 | 192 538 | 23 747 | 6 800 | 1 017 632 | |
| Recycled household (tonnes) | 130 711 | 17437 | 10 655 | 3 137 | |||
| Recycled commercial (tonnes) | 302 784 | 36 720 | 10 010 | 697 | |||
| Recycled total (tonnes) | 217 940* | 433 495 | 54 157 | 20 665 | 3 835 | 144 000 | 730 092 |
*Glass is not broken down into household and commercial, since the collection is handled in joint flows.
Material quality
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1/4
of the materials we collect have not been sorted correctly at source
Sampling carried out in 2020 showed that up to one quarter 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 has collected. We are working 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, 2020
| Packaging | Non-packaging | Waste | |
| Plastic packaging | 71,7% | 12% | 16,3% |
| Paper packaging | 82,5% | 12,5% | 5,0% |
| Metal packaging | 64,7% | 21,6% | 13,7% |
2021 Recycling Barometer
Årlig undersökning
-
96 %
recycle their packaging
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90 %
think it is important to recycle their packaging
-
87 %
recycle to protect the environment
Every year, the Recycling Barometer is conducted to examine Sweden’s residents’ recycling habits and attitudes to recycling. The survey is conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of FTI. This year’s survey shows that 96 percent state that they sort their packaging at source.
Households that participated in the survey state that they leave 79 percent of their packaging for recycling. Glass and metal packaging is sorted at source to a greater extent than paper and plastic packaging, which is perceived to be more difficult to sort.
3 out of 10 state that a better storage for source sorting at home would make them recycle more and 2 out of 10 believe that it is more convenient to throw the packaging in the household waste.
The most common place to leave your packaging is recycling stations, followed by environmental rooms. 77 percent are satisfied with their recycling solution.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, it is a myth that sorting does not matter. All packaging that enters the recycling system is helping to develop recycling schemes, so that even more packaging can become new material in the future. Packaging that is not sent for recycling is incinerated. By sorting your packaging, you are helping to conserve natural resources and contributing to a circular economy. For example, CO₂ emissions are halved when you sort your plastic packaging instead of throwing it in the bin.
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All packaging that FTI collects is transported to recycling facilities that recycle as much of the collected material as possible. The material that can’t be recycled is sent for energy recovery and used as a substitute for fossil raw materials in industry.
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Non-recyclable material is incinerated and used for energy recovery.