Circular economy faces rising demand for recycled resin as tech innovation develops

Janet Miranda

04-Nov-2021

HOUSTON (ICIS)–In the US, plastics production accounts for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions and 2% of energy consumption, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE).

“We think there’s an opportunity there to capture those wasted materials and energy and return it back into the ‘use’ phase,” said Kathryn Peretti, Technology Manager at the (DOE). She said her comments at the virtual Plastics Packaging Summit.

The department has published several metrics and objectives to position the US as a leader in advanced plastic recycling technologies by 2030.

Some of the agency’s objectives include addressing end-of-life fate for more than 90% of plastics, achieving greater than 50% energy savings relative to virgin material production, and achieving more than 75% of carbon utilisation from waste plastics.

Some of these goals could be achieved through making plastic recyclable by design or using biodegradable plastics from renewables that can impact greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy consumption.

THE ROLE OF INNOVATION
The DOE’s goals could also be achieved from the innovation of new technologies such as new collection technology and the creation of new technologies to upcycle plastics into new products.

To combat the plastic waste issue, the DOE started the Plastics Innovation Challenge to coordinate funding opportunities, critical partnerships, and other programs.

In addition to energy research centres around the country, the DOE has also set up the private-public BOTTLE Consortium partnership that is aimed at increasing the use of secondary materials.

The consortium focuses on two problems, the first is how to upcycle plastic waste and the second undertakes the challenge of redesigning plastics to be recyclable by design.

The DEO also has implemented other public-private partnerships such as the Better Plants Waste Reduction Program which aims to share best practices and support industry partner’s waste reduction efforts.

The acceleration of new technologies could lead to ready-to-scale technologies faster, and that could lead to faster decarbonisation of the plastics industry.

RISE OF SUSTAINABILITY & CHALLENGES
As consumer interest in sustainability grows and consumer brand companies should continue to draw up plans to increase their brand’s sustainability, the plastic manufacturers could likely be pushed into investing in low-carbon technology and recycled resins.

Already, plastics producers have seen keen interest in its recycled resin with strong demand in its early offerings.

Trinseo, for example, has seen “insatiable demand” for its recycled polystyrene (R-PS). Its R-PS can be used for food applications and contains 55% recycled content from depolymerisation.

Plastic processor Berry Global also expects demand for recycling plastics to grow as volumes grow “exponentially”.

Berry recently announced a collaboration with US-based restaurant chain Wendy’s and LyondellBasell to replace its plastic-coated paper cups with clear plastic cups made out of 20% recycled plastic. The company is sourcing polypropylene (PP) from LyondellBasell’s chemical recycling facility.

However, securing plastic waste to use as feedstock could pose a challenge.

In the US, about 91% of plastics are currently not recycled, instead the material ends up in a landfill or combusted.

The American Chemical Council (ACC) estimates that the US will need to produce 13bn pounds of recycled material to achieve its sustainability goals by 2030.

Focus story by Janet Miranda

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