Sustainable Plastics Strategy suschem.org Contributing partners: SusChem Cefic PlasticsEurope EuPC ECP4 Sustainable Plastic Strategy Edition 2, December 2020 Content 4 Sustainable Recycling 28 1 1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-treatment) 28 2. Plastic waste preparation 29 Introduction 7 3. Sorting and separation 29 2 3.1. Improve sorting 31 3.2. Improve separation 32 Methodology 11 4. Recycling technologies 34 4.1. Chemical recycling of plastics waste by pyrolysis 36 3 4.2. Chemical recycling of plastic waste by gasification 37 4.3. Chemical recycling of plastics Sustainable-by-Design 16 waste by depolymerization/solvolysis 38 1. Material design 16 4.4. Recycling by dissolution of 1.1. Extend lifetime 16 multi-polymer systems 38 1.2. Material usage vs 4.5. Mechanical recycling 39 performance 19 5. Post-processing 40 1.3. Increase recyclability 19 1.4. Biodegradation 21 1.5. Addressing micro 5 and nano-plastics 22 2. Article Design 24 Alternative Feedstock 43 2.1. Design for dismantling 24 1. Agricultural and forest 2.2. Decrease material usage 24 biomass waste based raw 2.3. Monolayer pouch and in-mold labelling 25 materials 43 2.4. Refillable and recyclable 2. CO2/CO-based 44 PET bottles 26 6 Glossary 49 About the partners 50 About Suschem 51 6 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY Introduction Plastic waste is ending up in the environment, feedstock for pure polymers by using chemical and unmanaged, is amongst the greatest recycling. global environmental challenges of our time12. As an industry, we believe plastic waste in the We need a holistic approach to plastic waste environment is unacceptable and represents a based on a measurable science-based massive loss of a valuable resource. framework that aims at preventing waste, enabling consumer awareness, and One of the keys to tackling plastic waste is the implementing eco-design-based solutions creation of a circular economy. In contrast to towards a circular economy. To achieve this, we the make, use, then dispose, of linear economy; need to continue to harness the power of in a circular economy we keep resources in use research and innovation to address the for as long as possible, extract the maximum reduction, reuse and recycling. This is value from them whilst in use, then recover envisioned by the authors of this report to make and regenerate products and materials at the circularity and resource efficiency a reality for end of their life. The circular economy is about plastics. recognising and capturing the value of plastics as a resource, with the least impact on the Versatile and durable, plastics are a remarkable climate. We have over recent years accelerated material. They allow us to meet a myriad of the transition to a circular economy, amongst functional and aesthetic demands, whether this other actions. is drinking clean water, playing sport, staying connected, enjoying the comfort of home, However, the circular economy for plastics is not visiting loved ones near and far, or helping us just about waste. Whilst eliminating leakage to live longer and healthier lives. Plastics have and the increased use of secondary materials become a key part of our society, defining the is one part of the picture, the transition to way we live today, improving the quality of life renewable feedstock completes this picture. for millions of people in Europe and across the Long-term, plastics production should also globe. They make our lives easier, safer, and decouple from fossil feedstock. This means using more mobile, while significantly increasing more renewable energy and more alternative energy efficiency and lowering CO2 emissions. feedstock from waste and renewable resources and investing in carbon capture solutions. The European Green Deal3 aims to make the EU’s economy sustainable by turning Much of the plastic in use today can already climate and environmental challenges into be recycled in some way, but according to an opportunities and making the transition just analysis by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and inclusive for all. The European Green roughly one-third of the world’s plastic Deal action plan will boost the efficient use packaging waste is lost in the environment. In of resources by moving to a clean, circular comparison, about 14% is collected for recycling, economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution. and 40% is disposed of in landfill. The remaining The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050 and 14% is incinerated, sometimes with energy- this objective will require action by all sectors from-waste recovery. In view of this, chemical of the economy to invest in environmentally technologies are needed to improve the friendly technologies, support industry labelling, identification and separation of waste to innovate, roll out cleaner, cheaper and plastics and composites into single-component healthier forms of private and public transport, polymers. These polymers should be reprocessed decarbonise the energy sector, ensuring for reuse in new products and/or fully recycled as buildings are more energy efficient and 1 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/28.full 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe- 2 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b02900 an-green-deal_en SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 7 improving global environmental standards. help plastic value chains boost the EU market for recycled plastics to 10 million tonnes by Plastic is an essential material to ensure a 2025 under the European Strategy for Plastics sustainable future and has a vital role to play in in a circular economy (2018)7. The CPA initiative helping Europe achieve its Green Deal ambitions. is based on voluntary pledges by industry8. In As an industry we are committed to increasing September 2020 more than 200 organisations circularity and resource efficiency through our are signatories of the CPA. voluntary commitments launched in 20184,5. Innovation as a global framework will play a key EuPC, EPC4, PlasticsEurope and a number of role together with ongoing cooperation along the the SusChem platform participants are proud whole plastic value chain. The complexity of this to be actively involved members of the CPA value chain (made up of producers of plastics and contributing in the five main value chains or chemical raw materials, converters, brand-owners, plastics-using sectors, namely: packaging, retailers, actors of waste management...) makes automotive, construction, agriculture and the creation of innovation ecosystems necessary electronic and electrical equipment (“EEE”). to tackle the sustainability challenge. To achieve this, we need to continue to harness the power of R&D needs have been identified across the five research and innovation to significantly increase main CPA value chains (packaging, automotive, reuse and recycling. In doing so, plastics will construction, agriculture and electronic accelerate their contribution to the European and electrical equipment (“EEE”). The CPA Green Deal objectives of reduced greenhouse gas commitment embraces R&D9 and Investments (GHG) emissions and resource efficiency. including chemical recycling, Design for recycling, Collection and sorting, Recycled Developing high-quality and high-performance content, Monitoring and Governance. products and solutions that are sustainable can be highly complex and challenging. It requires To achieve overall increased sustainability based innovative technologies and some of the best on full life cycle thinking, it is important to: scientists, engineers and most innovative minds, and has been the bedrock of the leaders of Innovate advanced recycling and sorting our industry for over a century. We believe our technologies to increase the value retrieved from industry has an essential role to play in making plastic waste, plastics more sustainable. Developing the • Optimise and redesign value chains for necessary levers requires a concerted effort by optimal value (retention): from sorting to everybody who can contribute. renewed raw materials, The European Commission launched the Circular • Secure feedstock quality with the application Plastics Alliance (CPA)6 in December 2018 to of testing technologies to meet purity and quality requirements, 4 The European Plastics Industry Circular Economy Voluntary Commit- ments (PETCORE, VINYLPLUS, ECRA and PCEP) 5 Plastics 2030, PlasticsEurope’s Voluntary Commitment to increasing 7 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1516265440535&uri= circularity and resource efficiency (PLASTICSEUROPE) COM:2018:28:FIN 6 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/policy/circular-plastics-alliance_en 8 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/policy/circular-plastics-alliance/ commitments-and-deliverables_en 9 https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/43693 8 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • Incorporate alternative feedstocks in the outlines the future research needed to fulfil production of plastics: waste or by-products the objectives of the European Strategy for from other sectors and processes, such as Plastics and the Green Deal priorities, where biological feedstock from the agricultural the technology solutions described are part industry, carbon-based feedstock from of an integral approach to render plastics the chemical industry and chemical and more sustainable. secondary plastics from the plastic industry, • Design materials with enhanced separation and recycling properties, • Design articles/products and business models that facilitate and encourage reuse, • Develop repair solutions that extend the lifetime
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