Plastic Waste in Romania: Between European Union Commitments and Actual Realities

Plastic waste management in Romania represents a critical challenge, situated between ambitious European Union (EU) circular economy commitments and the complex realities of national implementation. The analysis was carried out following the methodological steps and transparent reporting guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Out of 200 studies included in this study from major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) only 77 were retained. This systematic review critically synthesizes existing scientific evidence regarding this disparity through the lens of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis highlights three critical findings. Firstly, regarding the status of LCA research, a significant scarcity of primary data for Romania is revealed, with existing studies predominantly relying on static attributional methods that fail to capture dynamic market shifts. Secondly, concerning the alignment with EU directives, the results indicate a severe ‘compliance gap’. While the implementation of the Deposit-Return System (SGR) has successfully diverted Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) streams, the infrastructure for other plastic fractions remains stagnant, contradicting the efficiency required by EU targets. Finally, regarding strategic recommendations, it is demonstrated that current policies are hindered by a lack of LCA institutionalization. Consequently, the adoption of dynamic LCA models and harmonized reporting standards is proposed as a necessary mechanism to bridge the disparity between sustainability objectives and local operational realities.