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Why is plastic recycling a complex and multifaceted issue? The diversity of plastic resins complicates the recycling process. Mechanical recycling is currently the main solution and is highly efficient for transparent PET bottles. However, it may show some limitations on other PET waste, and alternative processes such as chemical recycling offer an alternative for companies transitioning to sustainable development. Chemical recycling is a group of processes that break down plastic waste into its basic chemical components, including those that are difficult to recycle mechanically. Through complementarity, mechanical and chemical recycling technologies can recycle a wider variety of plastics.
Michelle Norman is Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at Suntory Beverages & Foods Europe
The challenge of plastic recycling is Suntory Beverages & Foods Europe Committed to achieving our Sustainable Development GoalsLeverage collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit to achieve our goals’Growing towards goodnessTo achieve this goal, we value collaboration with strategic partners who encourage us to think creatively and develop new packaging solutions. That’s why we see in our collaboration with French companies Cabios This was an opportunity that marked a key development: we jointly launched the world’s first prototype Orangina bottle made from enzymatically recycled plastic.
Carbios’ technology uses an enzyme that breaks down PET, a substance found in a variety of plastics and textiles. Carbios’ breakthrough technology can infinitely recycle a wide range of PET waste, including complex or non-recyclable materials such as colored opaque plastics and polyester textiles, as well as produce 100% recyclable and 100% recyclable PET goods that retain their original quality throughout the process.
Currently, the lack of regulatory incentives exacerbates the challenges of plastic recycling. As we work to close the loop on the circular economy, we have to ask: Can we produce secondary raw materials of such high quality that they can be used in the same grade of applications? Equally important, what challenges does industry see in these raw materials, and how can we overcome them so that these materials can be quickly used in industrial manufacturing processes?
Catalyzing transformation: Regulatory and economic levers.
To drive this transition from a downstream perspective, a demand shock for chemically recycled plastic feedstock must be created. To this end, SBFE and Carbios, working with a wider coalition of like-minded businesses, represent the power of working together for sustainable change. However, industry collaboration can only go so far when a conducive legislative framework is absent, hindering other companies from moving towards an economically viable and attractive business model. There are two main levers that can stimulate this demand.
The first is regulation: mandating the reincorporation of secondary raw materials into new products can support the market for such materials and incentivize companies to increase recycling capabilities. The EU’s recently introduced Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), expected to become law this autumn, will provide strong incentives. The Regulation defines “high-quality recycling” in EU law and requires specific measures to increase the recycled content of any plastic part of a product’s packaging. Finally, it sets rules for “large-scale” recyclability, with performance levels determined by design requirements. To ensure that these regulations fully close the loop, it will be critical to have well-functioning deposit and recovery systems (or DRS) to effectively collect plastic packaging.
The second lever is economic: producing products with less environmental impact, making them more cost-effective than conventional products. This is no easy feat, as economies of scale often favour virgin materials. Currently, the supply of recycled material feedstock for food contact materials such as PET bottles is limited, affecting prices. As PPWR comes into force, it is vital that all Member States effectively implement the provisions that ensure preferential and equitable access to high-quality recycled feedstock to address current competition with other industries, such as textiles, which use PET bottles to produce recycled polyester, breaking the bottle loop. To strike the balance, we must incentivise the uptake of recycled materials by establishing a stronger framework across the EU to support a closed-loop system of recycling made from recycled materials, while avoiding downcycling. Whether we can do this will depend on timely progress from the new European Commission on the relevant PPWR secondary legislation, which remains critical for the food and drink industry to be able to operate and comply with the legal requirements.
Turning the tide: The important role of the legal framework.
The EU’s 2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) is likely to play a key role in supporting chemical recycling, as EU lawmakers are currently discussing an implementing act to set out rules for calculating and reporting recycled content in future products. This will also determine the allocation method in relation to chemical recycling.
“For chemical recycling technology to continue to thrive, it must be rooted in a solid legal framework that differentiates between the various forms of chemical recycling, capitalizes on the circular advantages of the most efficient methods such as depolymerization, and ensures widespread adoption” said Bénédicte Garbil, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Carbios, which has a commercial plant in Longlaville, France, dedicated to providing industrial-scale enzymatic solutions for PET waste to accelerate the circular economy for plastics and textiles.
“We are on track to deliver a significant number of products to customers by 2026. Our first request for the upcoming SUPD Implementing Act is to recognize Mechanical and chemical recycling are complementary processes that are essential for recycling all PET packaging and can increase the overall recycling rate of PET. Compare the environmental impacts of different chemical recycling technologies (gasification, pyrolysis, depolymerization, etc.) for each polymer type, rather than making an artificial division between the two categories. Secondly, we call on the European Commission to publish secondary legislation in a timely manner. While this is critical to achieving the 2025 SUPD recycled PET target, it will also provide the necessary incentives and confidence for investors to support and invest in innovative recycling technologies that drive the industry towards a more sustainable future. It is vital that regulations keep pace with innovation.”
Ultimately, the path to effective plastic recycling requires both innovation and regulation. By fostering cross-industry collaboration and implementing strong legal frameworks, we can turn the tide towards a truly sustainable future, while also empowering consumers to make more informed choices and have greater confidence in the sustainability of the products they buy.
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