Even though we are aware of the slow condition of plastic recycling that we are facing today, its demand keeps increasing. If it continues in the same manner the plastic waste volumes will grow from 260 million tons per year in 2016 to 460 million tons by 2030. This will only hike the already existing grave environmental issue of plastic waste.
However, a ray of hope is seen around the world, wherein industry leadership is moving towards embracing the use of recycled plastic. This puts behind the use-and-throw approach of plastic that we have seen for so many years.
Avoiding any further damage to the environment and trying our best to recover from the damage till date is only one of the reasons why this change is seen. It is increasingly becoming a condition for the industry to retain its license of operating. Furthermore it also shows potential of an important and profitable business opportunity – plastic recycling.
Along with the commonly used mechanical recycling methods, chemical recycling is also gaining importance in the process of making plastics circular. From all the plastic waste that is collected around the world, 85% of that ends up in landfills or is incinerated. This is not only a cause of more and more C02 emissions but we’re also losing out on a valuable resource. The chemical industry is working towards finding ways of making this resource renewable!
How?
With chemical recycling technologies, the industry has developed complementary solutions to existing mechanical recycling to recycle mixed or contaminated plastic waste that otherwise would be incinerated or sent to landfill.
These technologies can break down plastics and transform them into valuable secondary raw materials to produce new chemicals and plastics with the same quality as those made from fossil resources.
Together with value chain partners, the chemical industry has already successfully developed consumer products like food packaging, refrigerator parts, mattresses, carpets, and dashboards in cars from this type of recycled plastic.
There are mainly three new recycling routes that are emerging from this boom of chemical recycling technologies –
- Dissolution : extracting plastic
- Depolymerisation : breaking it down to basic building blocks
- Conversion : turning it into raw materials
The use of the chemical technologies in plastic recycling brings a positive wave in the quest of achieving a circular economy for plastic. This will also greatly help us to take another positive step for the environment and drastically reduce plastic leakage in the environment.
It makes us happy to spread awareness and positivity regarding this issue, we’re all in this together and that’s our greatest strength.
The changes has begun by individuals, countries and especially by the brands, who are fulfilling their EPR requirements.
Are you or your company interested in making a difference through EPR?
If yes, you should definitely get in touch with us, we being a registered PRO can guide & fulfill your requirements as amended by the government laws.
