Plastic waste exports in Switzerland
Switzerland: Plastic waste exports was 86,849 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Switzerland, 1988–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in Switzerland stood at 86,849 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Switzerland peaked at 121,419 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2000.
That places Switzerland 10th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12,386 tonnes | 11,425 tonnes | 13,348 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 25,275 tonnes | 15,476 tonnes | 34,537 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,955 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 97,350 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 72,518 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 121,419 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 52,426 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 87,786 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More environment data for Switzerland
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 42.99 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 4.77 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 4.05 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2549 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.29 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0203 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 5.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0476 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0228 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.2474 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Switzerland?
- Plastic waste exports in Switzerland was 86,849 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 121,419 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2000.
- How does Switzerland rank for plastic waste exports?
- Switzerland ranks 10th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.