Project ‘Improvement of the methodology and data on packages placed on the market to ensure coverage of plastic packaging waste generation’

In June 2025, the National Statistical Institute has finished work on the project, according to Grant agreement with the European Commission No. 101198042-2024-BG-EGD.

Within the framework of the project, the statistical methodology for the packaging placed on the market was improved and data were prepared for the period 2021 - 2024. A specialized web-based survey was conducted among online traders and postal and courier operators for 2023 and 2024. The data were validated, processed and evaluated using statistical methods.

A revised statistical evaluation was carried out for 2021 and 2022, based on data from the Statistical Business Register and the results of the specialized survey for 2023 - 2024. After checking for possible double counting, an additional adjustment for packaging related to online trade and postal and courier deliveries was included in the revised data. Private imports and exports through personal luggage and small cross-border shipments were assessed separately and were not included as quantitative adjustments due to their insignificant relative size.

The project results improve the coverage and methodological transparency of statistics on packaging placed on the market, and provide information relevant for the assessment of plastic packaging waste and the European Union's own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste.