Recycled content is becoming a regulatory requirement worldwide, but sourcing consistent, food-grade, and affordable PCR remains a major challenge. Demand is expected to triple by 2030 yet recycling infrastructure and feedstock quality are not scaling at the same pace. 

The result? Volatile prices, inconsistent performance, and intense competition for the best material. 

The core barriers: 

• Quality varies widely due to contamination and mixed waste streams 

• Supply is uneven across regions, complicating traceability and certification 

• Costs often exceed virgin resin, putting pressure on margins 

Because of these constraints, many companies are shifting from a “PCR-first” strategy to a resin-reduction strategy, replacing a portion of virgin plastic with mineral-based solutions to reduce total polymer demand and ease dependency on limited PCR supply. 

Circularity isn’t only about using more recycled plastic. It’s about needing less plastic in the first place. 

Learn about how MFS Compounds can work with PCR

Long seen as a laggard in EU recycling performance, Romania is now moving quickly to reduce plastic waste. Driven by upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) deadlines, the country has introduced bans on lightweight plastic bags, tightened producer responsibilities, and begun penalizing companies that miss recycling targets. The message is clear: plastic that can’t be collected and recycled now carries real financial and operational consequences. 

The biggest shift came with the launch of Romania’s nationwide deposit return system, one of the largest and fastest-scaling in Europe. With roughly 80,000 return points and a unified €0.10-equivalent deposit, the system is rapidly capturing billions of bottles and cans, delivering higher-quality PET back into local recycling streams. For brands, this means packaging must now be designed for compatibility with a system that prioritizes clean, sortable material—and penalizes formats that fall outside it. 

Beyond bottles, Romania is under growing EU pressure to fully implement the Single-Use Plastics Directive, signaling further restrictions on high-leakage items like cutlery, EPS foodservice ware, and certain flexibles. As EPR costs rise, companies are being pushed to rethink resin-heavy formats, shift toward lighter or hybrid materials, and invest in solutions that align with real-world collection systems instead of theoretical recyclability. 

Romania still faces gaps in infrastructure and enforcement, but the direction is unmistakable: less plastic, more circularity, and stricter accountability. For producers operating in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania has become a live test market for accelerated plastic reduction, where designing for deposit systems, reducing virgin resin, and supporting local recycling capacity aren’t future requirements but immediate competitive advantages.