PODCAST: EU €800/tonne plastic waste charge to accelerate recycling, product substitution

BARCELONA (ICIS)–Europe’s new €800/tonne charge on waste plastic packaging will force chemical supply chains to take recycling more seriously and could drive product substitution.

– Charge agreed at EU summit last week could lead to substitution away from some polymers which are less easy to recycle, or to other materials
– It will accelerate adoption of recycling technology and infrastructure
– Challenges as recycled polymer sector not yet developed enough
– Polymer and carbon taxes will act as a “short, sharp shock” for chemical companies and supply chain
– Move to local, sustainable production will accelerate
– Oil prices propped up by China and India building reserves which are now full
– Hopes for a V-shaped recovery evaporating
– China may switch from being the world’s largest net importer of polypropylene (PP) to net exporter by 2022
– Global PP moving towards “perfect storm” of over-capacity amid structural changes to demand
– PP producers must focus on sustainability, affordability, local supply chains

Interview with Paul Hodges, chairman of International eChem; John Richardson, ICIS senior consultant Asia; Mark Victory, ICIS senior recycling editor, and Helen McGeough ICIS senior analyst, plastics recycling.

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Interview by Will Beacham

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