Site Zero and plastic circularity in Sweden
About this good practice
To increase the amount of plastic recycling in Sweden, efforts of a circular plastics ecosystem have brought significant benefits. A key milestone was the 2023 launch of Site Zero – the world’s largest and most advanced plastic sorting and recycling facility. Developed by the organisation Svensk Plaståtervinning (Swedish Plastic Recycling), an initiative jointly owned by industry organisations in the plastics, food, trade, and retail sectors, the facility was funded through Sweden’s climate investment aid program under the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Prerequisites for plastics circularity in Sweden are also the Swedish governmental roadmap for more sustainable plastics production and recycling, as well as a functioning recycling system on both local, regional and national levels. Although not directly developed by local or regional authorities, municipalities play a crucial role by managing the collection of plastic packaging waste.
Site Zero complements municipal waste efforts and supports national producer responsibility legislation. The facility can recycle all types of plastic packaging from Swedish and Finnish households, helping establish circular plastic flows without carbon emissions. Its fully automated technology ensures high-quality sorting, allowing most plastics – even composite materials – to be either chemically recycled or turned into new products. No other facility worldwide matches its capabilities.
Resources needed
Plastic value-chain collaboration. Site Zero is spearheaded by Svensk Plaståtervinning owned by by major Swedish industry associations and companies. Supported by the Climate investment aid programme Klimatklivet. Total investment: EUR 100 millions.
Evidence of success
Plastic is a growing environmental challenge. In Sweden, plastics incineration accounts for about 7% of national emissions. Sweden’s collaborative recycling ecosystem aimed to change that. By collecting and processing plastics from households and industries, the system reduces fossil plastic use, increases recycling, and lowers emissions. Site Zero can handle up to 200,000 tonnes of plastic packaging annually, covering all household plastic waste from Sweden and Finland.
Potential for learning or transfer
Sweden’s circular plastics ecosystem, anchored by Site Zero, serves as a European benchmark for plastic circularity infrastructure. It has inspired the development of similar initiatives in countries like Germany and the Netherlands. Successful transfer of this model depends on several key factors: the presence of a national or regional strategy for circular plastics and sustainable waste management; legislative alignment, particularly regarding producer responsibility and municipal waste handling; access to public-private investment and technical expertise; an effective collection and logistics system for plastic packaging waste; and strong coordination between municipalities, producers, and recyclers, with cross-sector collaboration being essential.
Key policy insights for public authorities: Strategic infrastructure investments can address recycling challenges, and policies must align with infrastructure capacity to be effective.
Further information
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