The amount of packaging has increased and is continuing to increase in Europe.

Omissions

• The 2024 figures (81.5 million tonnes, 181.0 kg per inhabitant) were published by Eurostat on 22 October 2026, three days after the session date of 19 October 2026; at the moment of the speech the most recent published data was for 2023, which showed a 4.7% year-on-year DECREASE to 177.8 kg per inhabitant.
• The upward trend is not monotonic: packaging waste per inhabitant fell from 186.5 kg in 2022 to 177.8 kg in 2023, and the 2024 level of 181.0 kg remains below the 2022 level, so 'continuing to increase' describes a rebound rather than an uninterrupted rise.
• No figures or reference years were cited by the speaker, so the statement gives no indication of the scale of the increase (roughly 1.8 million tonnes, or about 2.3%, between 2023 and 2024).

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat — Packaging waste statistics (Statistics Explained)"In 2023, 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU. This corresponded to 177.8 kg per inhabitant, a reduction of 8.7 ..." / "In comparison to the previous year, the amount of packaging waste generated decreased by -4.7% to 177.8 kg per inhabitant in 2023."
• PrimaryEurostat — Plastic packaging waste in the EU: 35.9 kg per person (news release)"In 2024, 81.5 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU, or 181.0 kg per inhabitant. Packaging waste per capita increased ..."
• PrimaryEurostat — Plastic packaging waste in the EU: 35.3 kg per person (news release, 2023 data)"In 2023, 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU, or 177.8 kg per inhabitant. While this marks a reduction of 8.7 kg ..."
• SecondarySustainability Online — Amount of packaging waste generated per person rises in EU"Some 81.5 million tonnes of packaging waste was generated in the EU in 2024, or 181.0 kg per inhabitant, new data from Eurostat has revealed"