Sustainability in the Plastics Industry

25.07.2023

From snack bag to cooling technology: The rebirth of aluminum-plastic laminates

Interview with Prof. Dr. Markus Retsch, Chair of Physical Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth Exclusively für K-MAG Copyright: Dominik Benke 08.11.2023 Thanks to aluminum-plastic laminates, our favorite snacks stay as crisp as we love them. But what if the shiny insides of snack bags hold much greater potential – one that goes far beyond accompanying a movie night? Passive cooling technology could benefit from upcycling these chip bags, says a research team from the University of Bayreuth. In an interview with K-MAG, Prof. Dr. Markus Retsch, a physical chemist and head of the project, discusses the innovative use of aluminum-plastic laminates, why they have been a challenge for current recycling processes, and how they could pave the way to a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. Prof. Dr. Markus Retsch. Copyright: privat Dr. Retsch, why are aluminum-plastic laminates (APLs) so popular for food packaging such as potato chip bags? Dr. Markus Retsch: APLs are often used for food packaging because they create a barrier layer. This prevents air and water from passing through the packaging plastic. This keeps the packaged food in the bag fresh and durable for longer. Why are APLs a challenge for common recycling processes? Dr. Retsch: The problem with APL packaging is their combination of different material classes. The aluminum used cannot be mechanically or thermally recycled like other plastics and thus leads to contamination of the recycled plastics. In addition, the thin aluminum layer is firmly welded to the surrounding polymer films, so that this foreign material cannot be separated from the plastic film. Overall, this means that such packaging films can hardly be recycled. How did you come up with the idea of using APL packaging for energy-saving cooling foils? Dr. Retsch: Through our many years of research into novel materials with passive cooling properties, we had long been on the lookout for a cost-effective but high-quality source of highly reflective materials. So it came about that we took a closer look at the inside of such packaging films. A special property of these aluminum-plastic composite films is that they have a highly reflective surface on their non-printed side, i.e. on the inside. This ultimately gave rise to the idea of recycling these packaging films and making them usable for passive cooling applications. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates What features of APLs are particularly useful for this? Dr. Retsch: The key factor for the required properties is a high reflectivity of the aluminum foil. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that sunlight in the spectral range from 250 nanometers to 2.5 micrometers is completely reflected and that as little sunlight as possible is absorbed. In this way, the sunlight is not converted into heat. Highly reflective surfaces meet these requirements well, and so it is with the aluminum composite foil. How exactly does the process work – What has to happen for the chip bag to become a cooling foil? Dr. Retsch: The reflective properties of the aluminum composite foil alone are not sufficient to produce passive cooling properties. For this, it is additionally necessary to improve the emissivity, i.e. the emission of thermal energy in the form of thermal radiation. This can be achieved by coating the aluminum composite films with a polymer which, on the one hand, does not absorb light in the solar spectral range, but on the other hand, greatly increases emissivity in the mid-infrared range, especially in a wavelength range of 8 to 12 micrometers. This allows the advantages of two worlds to be combined. Passive cooling methods reflect sunlight and send thermal energy into space. Such materials are ideal for awnings, shutters or roof structures. Copyright: Daniela Leitner While it doesn't absorb heat from solar energy, it continuously emits heat in the form of mid-infrared thermal radiation. This emitted heat is then actually absorbed in space, which serves as a heat sink. In this way, it is possible to achieve that heat is emitted from the earth into cold space and such materials can cool down below the ambient temperature under strong solar radiation. The necessary additional coating can be accomplished by various techniques, e.g., by doctoring polymerizable films or by laminating on another plastic film. Where can these cooling foils be used or where are they even already in use? Dr. Retsch: As a first step, our cooling foils have shown how such aluminum composite foils can be recycled. In general, such cooling foils have not yet been used commercially on a large scale. However, there are a few startups that have already been able to demonstrate with similar foils that this can save a lot of energy for cooling requirements in data centers or in supermarkets. I see other possible areas of application, for example, in the field of blinds, shutters, awnings or sunshades, which are also widely used by private customers. Prof. Dr. Markus Retsch and his colleague Dr. Qimeng Song jointly developed the innovative upcycling process. Copyright: Dominik Benke What inspiration can the plastics recycling industry draw from your project? Dr. Retsch: What I find particularly exciting about our cooling film is the idea that a high-quality high-tech material can be produced from a waste product. As a result, there is an incentive to sort such films in a targeted manner and bring them into a profitable second application. However, a commercial and large-scale implementation of our approach is still pending and requires further efforts to make passive cooling films marketable as yard goods. Overall, I think that bold, creative and innovative solutions are needed to bring polymers into further applications even after their first use as valuable materials. A personal question to finish: Which type of chips is your favorite? Dr. Retsch: I generally eat very few chips. If I do, I favor salted nachos or chips with salt and vinegar. Nastassja Lotz (Editorial team K-MAG) More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

"Chemical recycling has the potential to close the existing gap in circular economy"

Interview with Beate Edl, Project Director Circular Economy, OMV Downstream GmbH Copyright: OMV Downstream GmbH 18.09.2023 Ms. Edl, what is the importance of chemical recycling for OMV? Beate Edl : Chemical recycling is complementary to mechanical recycling and therefore of high priority for OMV – it is an important cornerstone of our Strategy 2030. It helps us to meet the growing demand for recycled polyolefins. Back in 2009 we developed a laboratory scale process that has since been patented. The ReOil 100 pilot plant is in operations since 2018 and fully integrated in the refinery Schwechat, and this year the next larger ReOil 2000 demo plant will go live. This plant has a processing capacity of 16,000 tons of plastic waste per year, which is 20 times the capacity of the pilot plant. The next step will be the scale- up to an industrial-scale, commercial plant with a capacity of up to 200,000 tons per year. Furthermore, last year OMV and the technology provider Wood signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the commercial licensing of our ReOil technology. Thereby we enable global licensees to make use of future circular economy solutions. Beate Edl. Copyright: OMV Downstream GmbH Which used plastics is this recycling method particularly suitable for? Edl : We focus on polyolefins; specifically, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene – those have the highest market share of plastics. We do not want to interfere with established mechanical recycling routes and therefore focus on hard-to-recycle plastics that are currently not covered by any recycling activities, for example due to high contamination levels. Today, these waste streams are going to incineration. In comparison to mechanical recycling, which requests mono-streams, chemical recycling can process mixed plastic fractions as well – with our ReOil plants we focus on 2D mixed plastic waste fractions like foils. What are the environmental benefits of chemical recycling? Edl : Last year we conducted a life-cycle-assessment that compares chemical recycling with the current end-of-life route incineration. For 2030, this LCA shows that 34 percent of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved if the waste streams, which currently go to incineration, are chemically recycled using ReOil. This shows that chemical recycling, as an additional technology to existing recycling processes, can make a valuable contribution to reaching our climate targets. The OMV Group also has mechanical recycling plants in its portfolio – we see the added value in the complementary use of different recycling technologies. Chemical recycling has the potential to close the existing gap in circular economy, by recycling waste streams that are not feasible for mechanical recycling and are therefore currently incinerated. Where does OMV obtain the necessary material flows? Edl : Regarding the sourcing of feedstock, we are working together with waste companies both in Austria and neighboring countries. Why are we also sourcing feedstock outside of Austria? As said, we do not want to compete with mechanical recyclers. This and the size of the future ReOil plant calls for a broader geographical scope for feedstock sourcing. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates What challenges still need to be overcome? Edl : From our point of view, the biggest challenge is the composition of the feedstock, which is very heterogeneous. We are talking about waste streams with a high level of contamination – in addition the quality varies depending on the source. The challenge is to understand how these different feedstock compositions affect the chemical recycling process, as well as the output, the pyrolysis oil. By getting a better understanding of these correlations, the process can be optimized: in particular, to improve the yield. Increasing the output ensures that as much as possible of the waste input is convertible into new plastics and that the process is economically viable. What should the ideal ration be between mechanical and chemical recycling? Edl : It is difficult to specify a certain ratio. However, to establish a circular economy in the future, a combination of different recycling technologies is required. There are also clear recycling targets defined on EU level: By 2025, the recycling rate for plastic packaging will be raised to 50 percent, and to 55 percent by 2030. In 2020, an average of around 38 percent of plastic packaging was recycled in the EU. Chemical recycling can help to close this gap by being applied complementary where established recycling routes, such as mechanical recycling, are not feasible. Why is OMV integrating its chemical recycling plant at the Schwechat refinery site? Edl : From an economical as well as ecological point of view, it makes sense to integrate chemical recycling plants into existing refinery and petrochemical sites. Thereby, existing assets can be used further, and high safety standards already implemented in refineries and petrochemical sites can be easily extended to the newly integrated plant. For OMV safety standards have absolute priority – since our ReOil plants are fully integrated in the refinery, they are also subject to our high safety standards. Source VDMA More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

Recycling programme for engineering plastics

Energy chains often end up as industrial waste at the end of their service lives. The Chainge recycling initiative keeps the recyclable material within the circular flow. Copyright: igus GmbH 22.09.2023 Plastic energy chains and bearings by igus are found wherever movement is required during a production process. Movement in packaging plants is also driven by energy chains and bearings that have been manufactured using high-performance polymers. But, although these products are long-lasting, there comes a point when even these need to be disposed of. What happens then? igus has launched its own corresponding recycling programme and recently joined forces with the start-up cirplus with the aim of closing the material cycle for plastics. igus manufactures most of its products by injection moulding – a process from which the company has also derived its name (igus = Industriespritzguss … German for industrial injection moulding). The company has already relatively easily been able to recycle the waste generated by its own production processes – but it had few options for doing so with plastic components that need to be replaced after use. That’s why energy chains often end up in industrial waste and are sent for incineration at the end of their lives. igus therefore decided to launch its Chainge recycling initiative in 2019 to prevent this happening. Customers have been using igus’ recycling programme to send end-of-life energy chains – by any manufacturer – to Cologne since then. That’s were igus transforms them into regranulate. In return for the old chains, customers receive vouchers. “What started as a small idea has rapidly gained momentum. We’ve already collected and recycled more than 60 tonnes of high-performance plastics since the launch of Chainge. Half of that in 2022 alone,” says Michael Blass, CEO at igus e-chain systems. Chainge was expanded in October 2022. “The feedback was so positive that we decided to think even bigger about recycling. That’s why, besides energy chains, we started to add other engineering-plastic components to the recycling programme to accelerate the transition to a circular flow economy.” Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates Digital Marketplace for recyclates The igus recycling platform is also a digital marketplace for recycled materials. Copyright: igus GmbH igus is also planning to include more locations in the programme and expand its recycling network as Chainge continues to grow. “That means that, in future, we’ll be able to recycle products not only at our headquarters in Cologne, but worldwide,” says Blass. The platform is simultaneously a digital marketplace that allows users to access selected recycled materials. “That also makes it very easy for customers across the globe to procure reprocessed materials that can then be used to create new and high-quality plastic components.” The world’s first energy chain made using 100% recycled material has already been realised in conjunction with Chainge. Michael Blass: “What’s special about it is that everything we offer comes from a single source. We’re a producer and supplier of plastics, a provider of assembly services and a waste-disposal company as well as a producer and supplier of recycled materials that can be used again to create new products. What we do is unique this way and allows us to work with our customers to transform plastic into a sustainable resource.” igus cooperating with start-up cirplus Setting a joint course for the next level of digital trading with recycled materials produced using engineering and standard plastics: Michael Blass, CEO for energy-chain systems at igus GmbH (left) and Christian Schiller (right), CEO at cirplus. Copyright: igus GmbH igus has now won cirplus as a partner for the digital trading of standard recycled materials with the intention of advancing the digital circular flow economy even further. Cirplus is a Hamburg-based start-up that operates a digital marketplace for waste-disposal companies, recyclers and product manufacturers through which they’re able to purchase standardised recycled materials in a secure, traceable and cost-effective way – and to do so worldwide. This team of technology and digital experts is in this way encouraging the networking of the plastics and recycling industries. Both companies are now pursuing a shared vision of closing the material cycles for plastics and are even talking about starting a revolution in the trade for recycled materials made using engineering and standard thermoplastics. The aim is to establish reliable and transparent supply chains for recycled plastic materials by combining digitalisation with standardisation. Combining these two aspects will in future enable customers to benefit from a network that links the trade in recycled materials produced using technical and standard thermoplastics and that makes procurement from a single source both easy and transparent. The two companies intend to work together and set the course for the next level of digital trading in recycled materials and are envisioning the opportunities of a strategic partnership that ‘offers potential for building the world’s largest AI platform for circular plastics’. “The experience that igus has acquired in the field of engineering plastics and our expertise in the field of digitalisation and standard thermoplastics create ideal conditions for paving the way towards a circular flow economy – across all industries,” says cirplus CEO Christian Schiller in summary. Source Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft m.b.H. More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

"Considerably more fossil oil would be consumed without mass balance"

Interview with Markus Klatte, founder and managing director of Arcus-Greencycling Technologies GmbH Copyright: Arcus-Greencycling Technologies GmbH 22.09.2023 Mr. Klatte, Arcus commissioned an industrial plant for chemical recycling at the beginning of the year. What are its unique qualities? Markus Klatte: By utilising our technology, we can produce a pyrolysis oil from strongly mixed plastic waste that also contains polymers such as PVC, PET, ABS and many others. We process the plastic waste the way it arrives from a waste sorting plant or from partners in industry. We are looking to recycle everything that would otherwise go into incineration. When the material is processed by our pyrolysis, unwanted contaminants such as chlorine or titanium dioxide are separated and put into a sink. Condensable gases and non-condensable vapours are then produced in the gas phase. The condensable gases eventually become the pyrolysis oil. We operate our combined heat and power unit with the filtered, non-condensable gases, which renders our technology virtually energy self-sufficient. In the long run, there will also be a secondary market for residual materials; however, a lot of research still needs to be done in this respect. Markus Klatte. Copyright: Arcus-Greencycling Technologies GmbH With an annual capacity of 4,000 tonnes, it is quite a small plant. Klatte: Through our demonstration plant in the Frankfurt-Höchst Chemical Park, we can offer proof that industrial use works. We are still conducting a lot of tests. There are 650 measuring points at our plant that provide data, for example on energy requirements. In addition, the purpose of the plant is to test material flows that have not yet been researched, and to determine what can be recycled and what cannot. What happens next? Klatte: The demonstration plant in Höchst will be in permanent operation. Moreover, we have started planning the first commercial plant with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of input material. We have concluded various off-take contracts for the supply of the pyrolysis oil, including one with BASF of up to 100,000 tonnes. BASF will process our pyrolysis oil in its own petrochemical plants, and then integrate it into the various plastic production processes. We are virtually an interpreter from the recycling industry to the petrochemical industry. How important is the mass balance for you? Klatte: It is of the utmost importance; nobody is going to build a petrochemical plant solely for pyrolysis oil. The investment can run into billions of euros, but it would not be economical to process merely the small quantities of pyrolysis oil that will be available in the foreseeable future. Therefore, we have to use a similar approach, such as that used for electricity. Although consumers do not know whether exactly the electricity they consume in their own households was generated directly from renewable energies, the share of ecologically generated electricity in the overall grid increases with demand. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates Politicians are sceptical about the acceptance of mass balance. What would happen if it were not accepted? Klatte: Of course, it would then be more difficult to enter the market; but first and foremost, it would mean capitulation for the circular economy, and the whole world would suffer, as it would further extend the channel for fossil oil use, since the global production of plastics will continue to grow. The chemical industry will have no other choice, otherwise it would not have enough raw material. The political discussion on mechanical and chemical recycling is driven from a perspective that pits the two processes against each other and therefore does not advance the circular economy. Yet both processes are complementary and equal partners in the sense of the waste pyramid so to speak. Only with all the technologies at our disposal will we be able to complete the massive transformation to a circular economy. As chemical recyclers, we do not want to recycle the purest plastic fraction at all. That makes no sense economically or ecologically. However, we have to recycle the fractions that we have been sending to incineration up until now - otherwise, we won't be able to get the maximum out of our recycling quota. Some argue that chemical recycling is not actually recycling, and therefore cannot be on a par with mechanical recycling. Klatte: We see mechanical recycling and chemical recycling as siblings, with the common goal of returning as many plastics as possible to the cycle. Therefore, both broaden the basis of recycling and therefore of the circular economy. After all, what is important in the end is the result of maintaining the carbon within the cycle and achieving a functioning and sustainable circular economy. This is what both do, and in this respect, it is not the terminology that is decisive for me, but the carbon that is recovered. This complementarity should go hand in hand, and consequently both processes are on the same level – ahead of incineration of the plastic waste. Source VDMA More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

Making the impossible possible: Recycling multilayer packaging

Interview with Lukas Hausladen, Head of Sales Recycling Solutions at Krones AG Exclusive for K-MAG Different recycling steps of plastic. Copyright: Krones AG 13.09.2023 Was multi-layer packaging the Achilles' heel of the recycling industry? Not anymore, according to Krones and their project partners BASF, Südpack, and Tomra. Together, they're unveiling a solution that accomplishes what was once deemed impossible. At the heart of this innovation is a new adhesive that enables effective material separation during the recycling process. Lukas Hausladen. Copyright: Krones AG In an interview with K-MAG, Lukas Hausladen, who is well-versed in Krones' recycling solutions, offers insights into this game-changing development. He breaks down how the process works, the challenges they had to overcome, and Krones' role in this collaborative effort. It’s a glimpse into a future where multi-layer packaging doesn't have to spell the end of the recycling line. Can you break down why recycling multi-layer packaging has been a challenge up to now? Lukas Hausladen: Until now, separating the layers in multi-layer packaging has been practically impossible, making them essentially non-recyclable. Thermal treatment was the only viable recycling method. Multi-layer packaging can vary in structure. Mostly, two or more material melts are fused together during extrusion, making post-process separation virtually unachievable. However, there is also laminating, where two materials are bonded with an adhesive. This is where BASF and Südpack have focused their efforts, sustainably optimizing this adhesive. Krones ensures reliable material separation with a wide range of recycling systems. Copyright: Krones AG How exactly was it optimized? Hausladen: BASF, in collaboration with Südpack, has developed an adhesive that can be dissolved during the intensive washing phase of PET recycling. This allows the two bonded materials to beseparated in the recycling process. The primary goal here is to recycle valuable PET material, although processing PE is also possible as a subsequent step. How does this recycling process work? Hausladen: It's based on the standard PET recycling process. After shredding and pre-washing the material, it undergoes intensive washing. At this stage, the adhesive dissolves in hot detergent solution, allowing the two material components to separate. Following this, the PE portion is separated from the PET stream through density separation. After the cleaning process is complete, even reusing the decontaminated PET in food packaging becomes a possibility. Krones didn't develop any new recycling machinery or procedures for this project. The aim was to create a novel adhesive that would allow materials to be separated during the standard process. This would enable multi-layer packaging to be processed using existing recycling channels. Our role at Krones was to evaluate how effectively the multi-layer packaging could be separated. For this purpose, we provided the pilot plant as well as our analytical expertise. Are there specific types of multi-layer packaging that are especially challenging to recycle? How is Krones addressing this? Hausladen: Mixed materials in the masterbatch, or as previously mentioned in extrusion, currently can't be materially recycled. These materials are sorted out in sorting plants (for example, using Tomra sorters) and make it to the recycling plants only in minimal quantities. We're supporting the future development of fully recyclable packaging by continually optimizing our recycling process andalso by contributing to this project. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates Due to advances such as in this project, bottle-to-bottle cycles can be established more and more in the plastics industry. Copyright: Krones AG What is the current recycling rate? How can it be further increased? Hausladen: The rate at which multi-layer packaging is separated, the individual materials processed, and then reused is probably close to zero right now. That is why this project is so crucial. The more materials using this adhesive enter the market, the more likely it is that a separate material stream can be recycled. In this way, high-quality products can be created again. What has been the most exciting part for you personally in the development of this process? Hausladen: BASF and Südpack have invested a lot of effort into developing this novel adhesive. In the Krones lab, we replicated the recycling process and saw that material separation for multi-layerpackaging can work. But how well it actually works can only be determined through apilot-scale test. Therefore, seeing the recycling process in action at the pilot plant was the final and most critical step. Being able to observe material separation live in the density separator was incredibly exciting and motivating for the advancement of recycling as a whole. Nastassja Lotz (Editor K-MAG) More about recycling

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25.07.2023

New material recovery facility opened in Banyuwangi under Project STOP's expansion program

Copyright: Project STOP 02.10.2023 On Saturday, 16 September 2023, Project STOP and Banyuwangi Regent, Ipuk Fiestiandani, inaugurated one of Indonesia's largest Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) in Songgon Municipality. Built in collaboration with the regional government of Banyuwangi, the facility is a significant milestone towards establishing Indonesia’s premier regency-led circular waste management system. Source: Project STOP Key highlights: The MRF will manage waste collection and sortation as well as materials to be recycled from households in the region. Its daily processing capacity is up to 84 tonnes of waste. Anticipated to create approximately 200 jobs by 2025 and service over 250,000 residents. By 2025, the MRF aims to collect annually 23,000 tonnes of waste, including 3,300 tonnes of plastic. Co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq, with broad support from National and Regional Governments, international institutions, academia and private sector, Project STOP Banyuwangi focuses on delivering measurable impact on the ground. Since its inception in 2017, it has steadily extended across the entire Banyuwangi Regency. The new MRF is part of its Banyuwangi Hijau expansion plan, aiming to positively impact the lives of up to 2 million individuals, across all Project STOP city and regional partnerships, create 1,000 full-time jobs and annually collect 230,000 tonnes of waste, including 25,000 tonnes of plastic. Source: Project STOP "Plastic leakage to sea, land and air can be prevented by working closely with all stakeholders. Through the Project STOP Banyuwangi initiative, we work hand-in-hand to make tangible improvements to the health of the local environment and people living in Banyuwangi," said Ipuk Fiestiandani, Banyuwangi Regent. "We hope this infrastructure can establish the implementation of a circular waste management system and become a benchmark to other regions in Indonesia." For the MRF's construction, the Banyuwangi Regency Government allocated more than 1.5 hectares of land in the first phase of the Project in Banyuwangi. The circular waste system is designed to support the implementation of the Banyuwangi government’s Solid Waste Master Plan, co-developed by Banyuwangi Agencies, the Clean Oceans through Clean Communities (CLOCC) Program and Project STOP. Source: Project STOP "Since we founded Project STOP together with Systemiq in 2017, we established waste management systems in Muncar, Pasuruan and Jembrana as first phase. Based on the learnings done in the first three cities, we will now expand the reach of Project STOP to the Banyuwangi region. Beyond that, we hope that Project STOP serves as inspiration and blueprint for other projects to accelerate the establishment of a circular economy and to avoid waste leakage into the environment," commented Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO. "This second Project STOP Program in Banyuwangi underscores our enduring partnership with the Regency and other local government agencies, with increased impact and benefits for the local environment and population. We intend this to be a beacon for Regencies across the country and thank our funders and partners for their ongoing commitment,” said Ben Dixon, Head of Materials and Circular Economy at Systemiq. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates Source: Project STOP The state-of-the-art MRF is equipped to handle both organic and inorganic waste. Organic waste will be processed into compost, while inorganic waste will be sorted and transferred to the recycling industry. Project STOP Banyuwangi's achievements can be largely attributed to its successful collaborations and close partnerships with various Indonesian government bodies, such as the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (CMMAI), the National Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), the Banyuwangi regency government and Project STOP Strategic Partners including the Norwegian Government, Accenture, Borouge, USAID and Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G). Borealis AG More around Circular Economy

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25.07.2023

Recycled PET for India's first 100 % rPET beverage bottle produced by Srichakra Polyplast on Starlinger equipment

Copyright: StudioPeace 12.09.2023 Coca-Cola India recently launched its new 100 % rPET bottle for water – a significant milestone as it is the first time that a packaging made of 100 % recycled plastic is used for food or beverages in India. The food-grade rPET for the new bottles is produced by Srichakra Polyplast (India) Pvt Ltd on a Starlinger PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line. "We are proud to supply the recycled PET Resin for India's first beverage bottle that is made from 100 % rPET", said Ravindra PV, Managing Director at Srichakra Polyplast. "With Starlinger's PET recycling process, which has received positive opinions from EFSA and approvals from FSSAI, we ensure thorough decontamination of the PET in the recycling process and produce food-safe rPET pellets for PET bottle preform production and other types of food packaging." Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates The Starlinger recoSTAR PET 165 iV+ PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line at Srichakra's production facility in Telangana produces the rPET for Coca-Cola’s 1l Kinley water bottles. Source: Starlinger Coca-Cola India uses the new rPET bottle for its packaged drinking water brand Kinley, which is currently sold in one-litre bottles. The launch of the rPET bottle became possible after the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved the use of recycled PET in food packaging, following a thorough review of the material regarding food safety and compliance with its guidelines. In a press statement, Enrique Ackermann, Vice President Technical and Innovation Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, "Aligned with our vision of creating a World Without Waste, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute towards creating a circular economy. We are proud to be the first beverage company in India to offer our consumers a sustainable choice of packaging by launching Kinley bottles made from 100% recycled PET. Our new bottles made with food-grade rPET have value beyond their initial use, as they are fully recyclable and can be repurposed into new bottles. This is also an endeavour on our part to complement the Government of India's 'Swachh Bharat Mission' (translated: Clean India Mission) initiative." The Starlinger recoSTAR PET 165 iV+ PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line at Srichakra's production facility in Hyderabad, Telangana State, has taken up production in 2021 and was the first bottle-to-bottle recycling line Starlinger installed in India. It features technology for processing post-consumer PET bottles and has positive scientific opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and approvals from FSSAI. The produced rPET pellets are suitable for food-contact and can be used for food and beverage packaging like bottles for water and carbonated soft drinks, food trays, etc. The use of recycled plastics helps to reduce the need for virgin plastics significantly and avoids plastic waste going to landfills or polluting the environment. Srichakra has already ordered another two Starlinger PET bottle-to-bottle recycling lines which will be delivered beginning of 2024. Source Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft m.b.H. More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

BASF publishes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyamides from chemically recycled or renewable raw materials in mozzarella packaging

Copyright: YuriArcursPeopleimages 10.10.2023 Today, BASF has published its new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on the environmental impact of a mozzarella packaging using various alternative raw materials in the production of food-grade plastics. These raw materials are attributed to the plastics via a certified mass balance approach and the study compares a flexible multi-layer packaging with the same packaging based on fossil feedstock. Additionally, a fossil-based rigid mozzarella packaging was examined. The study has been reviewed by a panel of three independent experts. "This exercise helps us to better understand the environmental impacts of both the packaging format as well as the raw material source within a mozzarella packaging's entire life cycle", said Dr. Paul Neumann, New Business Development & Sustainability Polyamides Europe, BASF. Flexible multi-layer packaging using sustainable feedstock with highest reduction in CO2 emissions. Source: BASF SE The packaging format plays an important role with regard to its environmental performance: the rigid tray packaging system which consists of a mono polypropylene tray, combined with a multi-layer lid film, showcases the highest potential environmental impact in nearly all categories compared to flexible multi-layer packaging. This illustrates the possible beneficial effects of flexible packaging by using significantly less raw material and thus producing less packaging waste. "With our partners Südpack and Sphera, we additionally examined the usage of different sustainable feedstocks in the flexible multi-layer mozzarella packaging, be it BASF's sustainable mass-balanced polyamides Ultramid ® Ccycled ® , produced by using chemically recycled feedstock, or Ultramid ® BMBcert, produced by using renewable feedstock, in the mix with polyethylene," explained Neumann. The results demonstrate that significantly lower environmental impacts, primarily resulting in a reduction of CO 2 emissions, can be achieved by using flexible multi-layer packaging with a large share of chemically recycled or renewable raw materials. In addition, various technical and methodical scenarios, such as the usage of green electricity and chemical or mechanical recycling at the product’s end of life have been investigated. Exhibitors & products around raw materials & auxiliaries Thermoplastics Thermoplastic elastomers Resins & compounds Foams & intermediates Fillers To all exhibitors in this category Source BASF SE More around Circular Economy

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25.07.2023

Turning plastic waste into sustainable growth: Driving Circular Economy in Kenya

Interview with Lorna Rutto, Founder of Ecopost and Markus Horcher, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs, Borealis Exclusively for K-MAG Copyright: Ecopost 02.08.2023 Waste management, especially of plastic waste, can be a huge challenge in countries of the Global South. Ecopost, a social enterprise based in Kenya, has made it its mission to address this challenge. In partnership with Borealis, Ecopost uses an innovative business model to collect and recycle plastic waste, create jobs, and contribute to a circular economy. In this interview with K-MAG, Lorna Rutto, Founder of Ecopost, and Markus Horcher, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis, explain how they are working together to improve waste recycling in Kenya, how it is recycled and transformed into new products, and the positive changes the initiative has already brought about. Lorna Rutto. Copyright: Ecopost Can you tell us more about Borealis' partnership with Ecopost and how it aims to address plastic pollution in Kenya? Lorna Rutto: Kenya is facing huge challenges regarding poor waste management, chronic youth unemployment and deforestation. Ecopost has established a business model which addresses all these challenges by driving a circular economy via collecting and recycling plastic waste through a replicable and scalable model, while at the same time creating jobs for operators, plastic waste collectors, and distributors. Markus Horcher : Borealis and Ecopost share a common vision: stopping waste leakage into the environment and enhancing circularity for a positive socio-economic and environmental impact. As a result of this shared vision, the two companies have agreed on a collaboration. Through its Borealis Social Fund, Borealis finances Ecopost's activities, boosting waste recycling in Kenya and promoting a circular economy in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Borealis specifically supports capacity building, training and engaging more waste collectors, as well as formalization of their work by funding entrepreneurial start-up kits for the youth and women groups. Markus Horcher. Copyright: Borealis How did this collaboration come about? Rutto : I presented my vision of an Africa free from poverty and the success story of Ecopost at the 6th AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, organized by the Arnold Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative. The summit has a specific matchmaking session in order to bring together interested parties, which was a fantastic opportunity to connect to stakeholders we normally do not have access to. Horcher: I also joined this conference to scout for new projects for our Borealis Social Fund. I was fascinated by Ecopost’s approach and Lorna’s vision, in particular as Borealis is co-founder of Project STOP where we develop and implement a waste management infrastructure in Indonesia – I could immediately see the potential match to collaborate. I contacted Lorna after the conference and subsequently we jointly worked out how Borealis could best support Ecopost to drive circular economy in Kenya further. How is the waste recycled and what new things are produced from it? Rutto : Ecopost converts post-consumer waste into environmentally friendly plastic lumber, WPC ("Wood Plastic Composite") and pellets. The plastic lumber and WPC are used for products for the building, construction and transport industries e.g., fencing applications, road signage, outdoor applications like planter boxes, outdoor lights or benches. The pellets are sold to plastic manufacturers supply chain to be used for other consumer plastic items such as dustbins, buckets, and garbage bags, thus closing the circular economy loop. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates How have circumstances already changed thanks to the initiative? Rutto : Ecopost’s business model is to work with youth and women groups from marginalized areas who collect, sort, and prepare waste material for production. Most of them are women from the lower economic cadre in society with no other alternative sources of income. They are the most important people in the waste recycling supply chain. However, they are normally exploited by agents and middlemen who do not compensate them appropriately for the waste. This makes the already marginalized waste collectors more desperate, impoverished and hardly able to make ends meet. Borealis' contribution has catapulted Ecopost several years ahead of where it would have been in its efforts to ensure the waste collectors are better compensated, to empower vulnerable youth and women and to put a dent on poverty. Horcher: The Borealis Social Fund has enabled the initiative to establish a unique community engagement program. Youth and women groups are trained and provided with a buy-as-you-use start-up kit that includes a smart mobile phone, a weighing scale, a shredder, an agglomerator or a baler. These machines are locally fabricated. They add value to the waste collected thus increasing the waste collectors’ revenues while ensuring Ecopost and other waste manufacturers get plenty of feedstock. Rutto: So far, thanks to the support from Borealis, 20 groups with an average of 20 members are already benefitting from the project. The initiative is training 400 youth and women who are expected to graduate by end of August 2023. The initiative is keen on sustainability and has set guidelines and preparations for the beneficiaries to ensure they grow to their fullest potential. Ecopost founder Lorna Rutto and her dedicated team of waste pickers: Together, they turn plastic waste into sustainable growth boosters for Kenya. Copyright: Ecopost Can you share any future plans or projects that Borealis and Ecopost are working on to further promote a circular economy in Kenya (or other countries)? Horcher: Borealis is fully committed to transform from a linear to a circular economy. By 2030, Borealis aims to have a capacity for circular products of 1.8 million tons, ramping up from a current capacity of 150,000 tons. Borealis will also continue to drive Project STOP in Indonesia, which was initiated in 2017 by Borealis and SYSTEMIQ. After successful implementation in three cities, Project STOP has started the expansion across the entire Banyuwangi Regency aiming to provide waste collection services to 2 million people, keeping 25,000 tons of plastic waste out of the environment each year. The joint mission brings change: Lorna Rutto and Ecopost's dedicated collectors in action. Copyright: Ecopost Rutto : In the next 5 years, the joint Ecopost and Borealis initiative aspires to prevent around 63,600 tons of plastic waste from leaking into the environment. The initiative aspires to recycle over 500,000 tons of plastic waste per year by 2030. By recycling the plastic waste to manufacture plastic and WPC lumber, the initiative will provide suitable alternative material to timber thus saving trees. Every ton of plastic lumber saves 1.1 tons of trees. The partnership will therefore save over 10,000 acres of forest by 2030. The initiative plans to engage an additional 150 plastic waste aggregators in 30 counties across Kenya to its community engagement program in the next 5 years. One aggregator can collect plastic waste from approximately 1,000 waste collectors. The project will therefore be improving income securities for over 150,000 waste collectors. People in Kenya will benefit from the positive socio-economic and environmental impact, such as cleaner and healthier cities, reduced deforestation, and income opportunities. This will put a dent on poverty and move the Ecopost and Borealis initiative closer to its complementary mission: to achieve a zero plastic waste future and a circular economy. Nastassja Lotz (Editorial team K-MAG) More around Circular Economy

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25.07.2023

"There is no one and only solution for recycling"

Interview with Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner, Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT Copyright: Fraunhofer UMSICHT 25.07.2023 The future of circular economy in the plastics industry is a complex mixture of mechanical and chemical recycling. Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT), describes these technologies as indispensable components of the life cycle of plastics. But what exactly is the role of chemical recycling and how does it compare to mechanical recycling? And how can these innovative processes be integrated into existing value chains? In an interview with VDMA, Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner delves into this topic and emphasizes the crucial role of politics in promoting the transformation. Prof. Dr. Renner, what is the task of chemical recycling in the circular economy? Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner: In the transformation to a circular economy, chemical and mechanical recycling complement each other. It’s not a matter of either/or here, but rather a question of both/and. Both technologies are needed if plastics are to be reutilised as a raw material after usage. There are two main areas of application for chemical recycling: Firstly, when mechanical recycling reaches its limits. For example, when the effort required to sort and clean is too extensive. Secondly, chemical recycling comes into effect when material has already been mechanically processed several times; this is because the polymer chains shorten with each of these reprocessing processes, and additives often accumulate in the recyclate. But if you are looking to generate high-quality material, you need chemical recycling for breaking down the polymer into its components before reassembling it. If you don't do it in this manner, you would have to feed oil-based virgin material into the chain, and you wouldn't get away from fossil raw materials. That is why chemical recycling is an indispensable part of the end-of-life handling of plastics. The poor energy balance of chemical recycling is often criticised. What is your view? Renner: You can't criticise the energy balance across the board. The more fractions – meaning different materials – that make up a chemical recycling process, the more separation is needed. Consequently, more energy is required as complexity increases. But that does not mean the CO₂ footprint increases with it. In a research project carried out with the Wuppertal Institute and the Carbon Minds analysis company, we have recently evaluated a pyrolysis process with different feedstocks, and came to the conclusion that the carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 50 percent compared to virgin material. A study by the Öko-Institut concludes that chemical recycling performs more poorly than mechanical recycling in terms of climate-friendly characteristics. Renner: There have been an enormous number of studies published on the topic of the carbon footprint of chemical and mechanical recycling, some of which come to completely different conclusions. The only thing is that these contributions are usually not discussed at all. The Öko-Institut study provides the result that some players in the industry need in order to fully discredit chemical recycling. At the moment, a battle is being fought to keep the status quo. Which method is suitable for which particular application? Renner: It must be stated quite clearly that there is no rule of thumb for the use of the different recycling methods. We have to approach the subject step by step and try out many things to establish when mechanical recycling makes sense, and when chemical recycling is reasonable. And, when it comes to chemical recycling, we have to try out the different processes to determine which are best suited to which specific polymer mixture; that’s the task we will have to face in the next few years. Chemical recycling involves breaking down plastic waste into its molecular components, offering new possibilities for circular economy. Copyright: FabrikaPhoto So far, most chemical recyclers have been working with polyolefins, which are also easy to process in mechanical recycling. Why are they not looking at more complex plastics? Renner: Companies are currently going for material streams that provide a realistic expectation of generating profit in the medium term. You don't start with the most difficult materials and invest heavily in plants, without knowing whether you can use them economically or market them. The technology is not the problem; rather, you have to build up capacities and develop the raw material flows step by step. Of course, in chemical recycling you can also process complex material flows and achieve high qualities, but the effort required for fractioning is much higher. And as long as the raw material oil is cheap, this makes little economic sense. What is the role of politics in this conflict situation? Renner: We have well-established and highly efficient value chains in the plastics industry. If it is to be transformed into a well-functioning circular economy, this cannot be done without political guidelines. After all, it is a completely new economic system. Now the chicken and the egg dilemma comes into play, whereby politicians don't want to regulate too much, to prevent the market going bust before something new comes along. But a new market will only emerge if there are legislative guard rails in place, because it is not economically self-explanatory. That's where we’re at right now. We have to be aware that the transformation is a process that will take years, if not decades. What does that mean in concrete terms? Renner: Here, too, there are no simple rules of thumb. But regulation should definitely be product group-specific. You have to consider step by step what is possible, sensible and feasible for the relevant industry and products, and no specific technologies should be prescribed or favoured either. For example, mechanical and chemical recycling should not be considered separately, but together. This also includes the mass balance procedure. Customer groups that want genuine recycled content must be provided specifically with this plastic. For other - 3 - customer groups, it may be quite sufficient to state on a mobile phone shell that it has been mass-balanced recycled to X percent. Will the circular economy be a success? Renner: That depends on the value we place on defossilisation. From a purely economic point of view, it would make more sense to leave highly efficient linear value chains as they are. But if combating climate change is very valuable to us, we must also be prepared to change our behaviour and accept the cost. Implementing the circular economy will cost trillions, but it also offers immense economic opportunities. The various recycling processes, sorting processes, and marking processes are pioneering future technologies – which can be exported internationally as a system. It will then suddenly become a very positive overall concept. You invest, but you will also open up significant international markets. This represents a great opportunity for German companies across a wide range of sectors. Source This interview was first published as a press release by VDMA. More around Recycling

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25.07.2023

Yogurt cup becomes yogurt cup: Design for Recycling as the key to a Circular Economy

Interview with Konrad Wasserbauer, Global Director Circular Economy, Greiner Packaging Exclusively for K-MAG "We want to turn a yogurt cup back into a yogurt cup." - That is the long-term aspiration at Greiner Packaging. Copyright: FabrikaPhoto 06.09.2023 The need to recycle plastic packaging is at the heart of current environmental efforts. This is not just about recycling, but about a genuine circular economy. Monomaterial packaging and smart design decisions play a crucial role here. Greiner Packaging demonstrates how this can look in practice. Konrad Wasserbauer. Copyright: Greiner Packaging In an interview with K-MAG, Konrad Wasserbauer discusses the challenges of recycling plastic packaging, how the "Design for Recycling" concept addresses these challenges, and the implications of recent developments in cardboard-plastic combinations. Mr. Wasserbauer, what specific challenges are there when recycling plastic packaging? Konrad Wasserbauer: The path to a functioning circular economy involves a shared vision among all participating players regarding the quality and quantity of regranulates, and the coordinated development of packaging itself as well as the corresponding collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure. If I aim for regranulate to produce a garden bench, the necessary steps differ than if my goal is to achieve a food-grade cycle. Our long-term ambition at Greiner Packaging is clear: we want to turn a yogurt cup back into a yogurt cup. The central challenge for the future will be for the entire industry to strive for the same vision. Only then can a circular economy be realized – together. Part of the solution is the "Design for Recycling" concept. What does this mean? Wasserbauer: How packaging must be designed for recycling is closely related to the aforementioned requirements. First, it's crucial to design packaging made primarily from a single material – so-called monomaterial packaging – or to use material combinations that can be easily and reliably separated during the sorting and recycling process, such as with the K3® r100, the latest generation of our cardboard-plastic combinations. With the help of digital watermarks, the packaging material can be determined in the sorting system and the packaging can be assigned to the correct sorting stream. Copyright: Greiner Packaging The recyclability is also influenced by the material used. This means that even monomaterial packaging isn't automatically suitable for recycling. It's beneficial to choose a material for the packaging that is widely available and thus can be recycled. However, the real challenge arises when you want to establish shared material flows. Forward-thinking regulations can be very helpful here. Furthermore, the decoration of a package plays a significant role. The basic rule here is: less is more. The fewer recycled materials are contaminated by, for example, colors, the higher their quality, and the more likely they can be used for food packaging again. When decorating, and of course with the basic structure, it's also essential to use appropriate colors. If our customers opt for dark packaging, we currently recommend using carbon-black free masterbatches, which allow the packaging material to be detected in the sorting plant. The use of various identification technologies is becoming increasingly important. We are working on different projects, including the use of tracers, imaging AI, and digital watermarks. These invisible digital watermarks for the human eye are incorporated into the decoration of packaging and are used, among other things, to determine the packaging material in the sorting plant. This ensures the correct sorting stream for packaging. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates The K3® r100 is the first cardboard/plastic cup in which the materials separate from each other independently. Copyright: Greiner Packaging You also mentioned your K3® r100 cup earlier. What features of the cup promote its recyclability? How does the recycling process work? Wasserbauer: Cardboard-plastic combinations are a showcase in many ways: Apart from the fact that plastic usage is minimized thanks to the cardboard wrap, the unprinted – usually white or transparent – plastic cup yields high-quality recycled material. Consumers can easily separate cardboard and plastic and dispose of them properly. If consumers don't take this step, we've developed the K3® r100. This is the first cardboard-plastic cup where cardboard and plastic separate autonomously. This happens through mechanical pressure and friction during the waste collection process: garbage from the recycling bin gets compressed in the garbage truck, causing the wrap to detach from the cup on its own. Both components can then be allocated to the appropriate sorting streams in the sorting facility and further processed. How does this approach differ from other plastic products on the market? Wasserbauer: Cardboard-plastic combinations have been a success story since their invention over 40 years ago – by Greiner Packaging. No other type of packaging scores so well in terms of sustainability and design aspects simultaneously. The self-separation function sets new standards for the recyclability of cardboard-plastic combinations. What are your future plans regarding promoting a more sustainable plastic packaging industry? Wasserbauer: Internally, we are doing everything we can to design our packaging according to the Reduce – Reuse – Recycle criteria. But we are also in intensive dialogue with players across the entire value chain – from suppliers, recyclers, political decision-makers, NGOs to our customers, of course. Moreover, we now have our own recycling plant to be able to provide recycled materials ourselves. We firmly believe that a real circular economy can only be achieved through a collaboration of all involved stakeholders. Elena Blume (Editorial team K-MAG) More around Circular Economy

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25.07.2023

"There must not be a cannibalisation of material flows"

Interview with Michael Ludden, Managing Director, Sutco Recycling GmbH Copyright: Sutco 16.08.2023 Mr. Ludden, what potential does chemical recycling have in your view? Michael Ludden : The potential is clearly between mechanical processing and energy recovery. When incinerating, only the energy of the plastic waste is used, the material itself is lost; therefore, new material has to be obtained from fossil resources. But unlike mechanical recycling, chemical recycling breaks down these compounds instead of utilising existing polymers as material. Copyright: Sutco In practice, in which area is it feasible? Ludden : For me, chemical recycling becomes feasible whenever mechanical recycling proves difficult. It makes sense to break up the carbon compounds, clean them and polymerise them again. That is not taking place at the moment, however. Unfortunately, the crux of the matter is that chemical recycling currently only deals with reprocessing of polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene. These plastics consist only of chains made up of carbon and hydrogen. The large amount of other plastics that also contain nitrogen, sulphur or oxygen is not the focus of chemical recyclers, because these substances interfere with pyrolysis. However, polyolefins can be processed very well in mechanical recycling. This type of recycling is ecologically much more sensible because the plastics remain intact in their composite structure. Firstly, no material is destroyed, and secondly, fewer resources, less energy and less water are required for reprocessing. If chemical recyclers now also use the material that the mechanical recyclers can process very well, this will lead to a cannibalisation of the material flows. This must be prevented at all costs. With which approach? Ludden : It is the task of politics to prevent this. In principle, there is a legally defined five-level waste hierarchy. Mechanical recycling is of higher value than chemical recycling. This principle must not be disrupted. Efforts to sync mechanical and chemical recycling are already underway; however, in my view, this is very dangerous, as it would have a considerably negative impact on the environment. However, the environment must always be the main priority. Exhibitors & products around recycling Recycling plants Separating and sorting systems for waste Size reduction equipment (crushers, shredders, grinders) Compounding lines Recyclates Isn't the lack of economic viability thwarting the progress of chemical recycling? Ludden : From today's perspective, large-scale chemical recycling may not be economical, but that could all change in the years ahead. Ten years ago, you wouldn't have thought that you could get more money for recyclates than for virgin material. What we call uneconomical today may well prove to be economical in the future given a different political framework. It is important that politics steer developments in such a way as to enable a permanently sensible future utilisation of chemical recycling, with the assurance that mechanical and chemical recycling complement each other optimally. This would mean, for example, that polyolefins are not chemically recycled. Once again, cannibalisation would be the worst solution, because it would lead to environmental damage. To what extent does chemical recycling affect Sutco's business? Ludden : It does not affect our business model; on the contrary, as Sutco builds sorting plants, which are absolutely necessary in mechanical recycling before the actual processing of the material, but are also indispensable for chemical recycling. We have already received several enquiries. How will chemical recycling develop? Ludden : Chemical recyclers are currently in a pilot phase. The procedures are all only running on a small scale. Some plants have a capacity of maybe 10,000 tonnes a year. By comparison, we are building sorting plants for 100,000 tonnes today. Chemical recyclers will face problems that many don't even see yet. On a small scale, they often don't even materialise. One example is the treatment of foreign elements like sulphur or nitrogen. At 5,000 tonnes a year, the end product is still acceptable. At 100,000 tonnes, you suddenly have a large waste stream that has to be treated, resulting in the necessity to build desulphurisation plants and much more, something that will become very expensive. And that is one of the reasons why I am convinced that mechanical recycling will always be cheaper than chemical recycling. That's why the main material flows will go into mechanical recycling. Still, policymakers have to be careful not to make mistakes in that regard. What’s your view on quotas for the use of recycled material? Ludden : I am absolutely in favour of a product-related recyclate input quota. It will boost the market for recyclates enormously, and thereby also ensure that the material flows become greater. Subsequently, anyone who produces a hair shampoo, for example, must ensure that their packaging bottle has the specified recycled content. In return, they have to pay the supplier the requested price. When supply becomes scarce, prices will rise. This creates a pull from the market into recycled plastics, and consequently more will be invested in recycling plants. If you plan a sorting plant and a processing plant today, you have to be able to expect a continuous input over several years and a continuous output at a reasonably constant price. Then the material quantities also increase. That is why recyclate quotas are so important. But at the same time, policymakers must see to it that chemical recycling does not absorb these material quantities. These are their two main tasks. If they can manage that, then many things will become feasible. Source VDMA More around Recycling

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