Citeo

Smurfit Westrock study finds France lags on bag-in-box recycling sorting

Smurfit Westrock published results on 3 September from a study of consumer sorting of bag-in-box packaging (plastic bladder vs cardboard) at recycling sites in four European countries. France recorded the lowest separation rate at 67 percent, against 97 percent in Germany, 93 percent in Belgium and 87 percent in Sweden. The company attributes the French shortfall to collection systems that do not require cardboard-plastic separation, while producer responsibility body Citeo-Adelphe launched a sorting awareness campaign in December 2025.

Why this mattersLow sorting rates in France risk sending recyclable bag-in-box material to incineration, complicating compliance with the EU's 2030 PPWR recyclability requirements.

• Smurfit Westrock unveiled the study results on 3 September
• France's bag-in-box separation rate stands at 67 percent, the lowest of four countries studied
• Germany recorded a 97 percent separation rate, the highest among the countries studied
• Belgium recorded 93 percent separation and Sweden 87 percent
• At the Antwerp, Belgium site, 77 percent of collected bag-in-boxes came from the wine market
• Citeo-Adelphe launched a sorting awareness campaign in France in December 2025

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