Plastics have proved to be one of the few materials that can adapt to the dynamic nature of global industry and consumerism, delivering benefits that include durability, safety, disease prevention, and cost effectiveness – not to mention being extremely lightweight compared to glass and metal alternatives. However, despite the many benefits, there are also unintended environmental consequences associated with plastics, namely the waste that they create. In 2020, over 367 million metric tons of plastic were produced globally – expected to increase to approximately 590 million metric tons by 2050 – yet research shows that only 9% of plastic waste is effectively recycled today, with most of this waste being disposed of in landfills or by incineration.
Advanced Recycling – also referred to as molecular or chemical recycling – can use solvents, heat, enzymes, and/or even sound waves to purify or break down plastic waste for recycling. In the wake of China’s National Sword policy in 2017 limiting recyclable feedstock imports, these technologies have emerged as a promising solution for difficult-to-recycle plastics such as flexible packaging, food packaging, and specialty high-end branded containers. Advanced Recycling technologies complement traditional mechanical recycling processes, providing another avenue toward reducing reliance on virgin plastic feedstock made from fossil fuels and enabling a circular model where plastic materials can be recycled and reused indefinitely.
Join us for our upcoming webinar, Advanced Recycling: A Critical Tool for Achieving Plastics Circularity, on September 29 at 2:00 pm EDT where we will discuss different Advanced Recycling technologies, address misconceptions surrounding the overall impacts and sustainability of Advanced Recycling processes and help brand owners better understand the applicability of Advanced Recycling to their own plastic waste reduction strategies and post-consumer recycled plastic content goals.
During this webinar, attendees will learn:
- The different methods of Advanced Recycling technologies, including purification, decomposition, and conversion
- How advanced recycling is a complimentary solution to traditional mechanical recycling
- Common myths and realities associated with Advanced Recycling
- How Advanced Recycling can help support plastic waste reduction and circularity goals
Watch On-Demand
