The world is using more materials than ever before—but recycling is falling behind. A new report from the Circle Economy think tank shows that only 6.9% of the 106 billion tonnes of materials used each year are recycled. That’s a drop from 9.1% in 2015.

The report says the main problem is overconsumption. Even if every recyclable item were recycled, the global recycling rate would only reach about 25%. That means recycling alone can’t fix the problem. The report says we must reduce how much we consume if we want to tackle the growing waste crisis.

While some companies are using more recycled materials, the use of new, raw materials is still growing faster. Between 2018 and 2021, recycled content in manufacturing rose by 200 million tonnes, but global demand for virgin materials continues to rise.

The total amount of raw materials extracted has tripled over the past 50 years and could increase by another 60% by 2060 if nothing is done. Per person, consumption has gone from 8.4 tonnes in 1970 to 12.2 tonnes in 2020. But the increase isn’t equal. People in wealthier countries consume six times more than those in poorer countries—24 tonnes per person compared to 4 tonnes. The EU and US alone use more than half of the world’s materials, even though they make up just 10% of the global population.

The report calls for international action, including global targets to cut material use and energy demand, and a new agency—similar to the International Energy Agency—that would help countries track and manage sustainable resource use.

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