The Spanish plastics industry strengthens its position as one of the engines of the country's industrial activity. According to the Equiplast 2026 Study, the sector reaches a turnover close to 29,000 million euros, a figure that is equivalent to 2% of national GDP and 5.22% of Spanish industrial production. Between 2021 and 2024, it has experienced an 18% growth, driven by its adaptation to new models of circular economy and sustainability.
The business fabric of the sector is made up of 3,633 companies that generate more than 107,000 jobs. Activity is mainly concentrated in Catalonia and the Valencian Community, regions that gather nearly half of the companies linked to this industry.
The transformation segment continues to be the main driver of the business. With more than 3,200 companies, it concentrates 93% of the sector's total turnover thanks to its presence in strategic industries such as packaging, automotive, and construction. Precisely, the use of plastics in construction has registered one of the greatest advances in recent years, with a growth of 39% in the last three years.
Recycling, a competitive advantage for Spain
One of the most outstanding aspects of the report is Spain's leadership in plastic recycling capacity. Spain concentrates 15% of the total recycling capacity of the European Union, ranking only behind Germany and ahead of countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, and France. However, Spanish plants are currently working below their potential capacity due to the increase in imports of low-cost virgin plastic.
Regulation and costs, the great challenges
Despite the positive evolution of the business, the industry faces important challenges. Among them are the Spanish tax on non-reusable plastic packaging and the entry into force of the new European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will force an acceleration of the transformation of packaging design and production processes.
These regulatory demands are joined by geopolitical tensions and the rising cost of raw materials, whose price has increased by more than 30% in recent years. The growing competition from countries such as China and Turkey is also putting pressure on the profitability of European companies.
Innovation to secure the future
The study points out that technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and digital twins will be key to improving industrial efficiency and accelerating the transition towards new materials and more sustainable production models. In this scenario, recycling is emerging as a strategic infrastructure to guarantee European industrial competitiveness and autonomy.
In beauty terms, the growth of the plastic sector confirms the strategic role that packaging will continue to play in the cosmetic industry. The combination of innovation, circularity, and regulatory compliance will mark the evolution of packaging in the coming years, in a context where sustainability is a market demand.