Kennis

We zien de vraag naar kunststofproducten in de bouw (gebouwde omgeving, bedrijventerreinen en grond-, weg-, en waterbouw) groeien. Dit komt doordat kunststof alternatieven voor bijvoorbeeld loopbruggen en fietspaden geïntroduceerd worden, bestaande kunststof producten zoals kozijnen nog altijd in trek zijn en isolatiemaatregelen, in het kader van de energietransitie, overal in het land genomen worden. Hierbij is het opvallend dat het aandeel kunststoffen (op gewicht) op het totaal aan bouwmaterialen nog bescheiden is (0,88%). Tegelijkertijd is het aandeel in totale milieulast uitgedrukt in MKI is maar liefst 23,7%. 2 Toch kunnen kunststoffen ook een duurzamer alternatief zijn, bijvoorbeeld wanneer het vervanging is van asfalt, staal of beton. Het is daarom niet wenselijk dat we kunststoffen in de bouw in de komende decennia uitbannen. Alhoewel er aan veelbelovende marktconforme biobased alternatieven voor kunststof producten gewerkt wordt, zoals in het programma Building Balance, zullen we voorlopig ook nog afhankelijk blijven van kunststoffen. Uiteraard kan het daarbij ook gaan om biobased kunststoffen. Daarom is het van belang om na te denken over de vraag hoe we zorgen dat kunststoffen circulair worden toegepast in de bouw zodat we toekomstige generaties behoeden voor een grote berg niet-recyclebaar kunststof bouwafval. Zowel fossiele- als biobased kunststoffen moeten einde levensduur gerecycled worden. Voorliggend onderzoek omvat een brede verkenning naar de belangrijkste kunststof producten in de bouw en strategieën om deze circulair te maken. Hierbij hebben we ons specifiek gericht op de provincie Zuid-Holland door inzichtelijk te maken welke ketenstappen in deze provincie plaatsvinden. Vervolgens identificeren we welke circulaire strategieën prioriteit zouden moeten krijgen en welke rol de Provincie kan pakken.

Negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution1 will shape future policies on plastics production, use and waste management. Its parties will benefit from a high-resolution baseline of waste flows and plastic emission sources to enable identification of pollution hotspots and their causes2. Nationally aggregated waste management data can be distributed to smaller scales to identify generalized points of plastic accumulation and source phenomena3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. However, it is challenging to use this type of spatial allocation to assess the conditions under which emissions take place12,13. Here we develop a global macroplastic pollution emissions inventory by combining conceptual modelling of emission mechanisms with measurable activity data. We define emissions as materials that have moved from the managed or mismanaged system (controlled or contained state) to the unmanaged system (uncontrolled or uncontained state—the environment). Using machine learning and probabilistic material flow analysis, we identify emission hotspots across 50,702 municipalities worldwide from five land-based plastic waste emission sources. We estimate global plastic waste emissions at 52.1 [48.3–56.3] million metric tonnes (Mt) per year, with approximately 57% wt. and 43% wt. open burned and unburned debris, respectively. Littering is the largest emission source in the Global North, whereas uncollected waste is the dominant emissions source across the Global South. We suggest that our findings can help inform treaty negotiations and develop national and sub-national waste management action plans and source inventories.

The report “The Future of European Competitiveness” highlights Europe’s economic challenges, including lagging productivity growth, which has widened the gap with the US. Key factors affecting this are the lack of innovation in advanced technologies, high energy costs, and dependency on external suppliers, notably China. To maintain growth, Europe must focus on innovation, particularly in tech and green industries, while fostering social inclusion. It calls for coordinated industrial policies, reducing dependencies, and a joint decarbonization strategy to boost Europe’s competitiveness and resilience amidst shifting global dynamics​

Dit onderzoek gaat over mogelijkheden om de verpakkingsketen in 2050 circulair te krijgen. Het is een onderdeel van onderzoek van het Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL) naar de circulaire economie. Productgroep analyse kunststofverpakkingen en drankenkartons. Er wordt steeds meer plastic gemaakt, het meeste wordt gebruikt voor verpakkingen. De productie en het gebruik van plastic verpakkingen dragen bij aan klimaatverandering, vervuiling (zwerfafval en microplastics) en minder biodiversiteit. De Nederlandse overheid wil daarom dat er in 2050 geen nieuwe plastic verpakkingen van nieuw gewonnen olie (primaire fossiele grondstoffen) worden gemaakt. Dat betekent dat alle plastic verpakkingen in 2050 alleen nog maar zijn gemaakt van gerecycled materiaal en ‘hernieuwbare bronnen’, zoals mais en suikerriet. Het doel voor 2050 kan niet worden gehaald met de manier waarop plastic verpakkingen nu worden gemaakt en met het huidige beleid. Op dit moment is maar 7 procent van de plastic verpakkingen gemaakt van gerecycled materiaal. Dit concludeert het RIVM in onderzoek dat het met de Universiteit Utrecht (UU), Rijkswaterstaat en TNO heeft gedaan.

The plastic industry needs to match the recycling goals set by the EU. Next to technological hurdles, the cost of plastics mechanical recycling is an important modality in this transition. This paper reveals how business economic cost calculation can expose significant pitfalls in the recycling process, by unravelling limitations and boundary conditions, such as scale. By combining the business economic methodology with a Material Flow Analysis, this paper shows the influence of mass retention of products, the capacity of the processing lines, scaling of input capacity, and waste composition on the recycling process and associated costs. Two cases were investigated: (i) the Initial Sorting in a medium size Material Recovery Facility and (ii) an improved mechanical recycling process for flexibles − known as the Quality Recycling Process − consisting of Additional Sorting and Improved Recycling. Assessing the whole recycling chain gives a more holistic insight into the influences of choices and operating parameters on subsequent costs in other parts of the chain and results in a more accurate cost of recycled plastic products. This research concluded that the cost of Initial Sorting of flexibles is 110,08–122,53 EUR/t, while the cost of subsequent Additional Sorting and Improved Recycling ranges from 566,26 EUR/t for rPE Flex to 735,47 EUR/t for rPP Film, these insights can be used to determine a fair price for plastic products. For the Quality Recycling Process it was shown that rationalisation according to the identified pitfalls can reduce the cost per tonne of product by 15–26%.

Globally, less than 0.5% of post-consumer textile waste is recycled, with the majority incinerated or ending up in landfills. Most postconsumer textiles are mixed fibers, complicating mechanical recycling due to material blends and contaminants. Here, we demonstrate the chemical conversion of postconsumer mixed textile waste using microwave- assisted glycolysis over a ZnO catalyst followed by solvent dissolution. This approach electrifies the process heat while allowing rapid depolymerization of polyester and spandex to their monomers in 15 minutes. A simple solvent dissolution enables the separation of cotton and nylon. We assess the quality of all components through extensive material characterization, discuss their potential for sustainable recycling, and provide a techno-economic analysis of the economic feasibility of the process.

Report Highlights:

·  Comprehensive Analysis: 188 pages, 22 tables, 48 graphics
·  Production Routes: Methods to derive alternative naphtha from renewable sources
·  Technological Insights: Current and emerging technologies
·  Market Analysis: Key companies, market capacities, and growth potential
·  Regulatory Environment: Policies influencing adoption
·  Industry Partnerships: Collaborations driving innovation
·  Future Outlook: Projections for growth and trends
·  Discover how the chemical industry can transition to sustainable feedstocks and the role of renewable carbon in this transformative journey.
Read the short version here or you can download and read the full report (lisence only) on renewable carbon publications.

The great challenges we face in our attempts to create a sustainable space for plastics in the circular economy, cannot be solved by engineering sciences alone. Rather, in a systemic view, our technological solutions will thrive – or founder –due to other factors, such as politics, economics, and consumers. The future of Plastics is heavily determined by People and the Power they exercise.

These elements are also at play in the academic biotope. Through the inherent hierarchies of universities, the amount of everyday Power over People’s lives assigned to a professor is staggering, and the risks of slipping into abuse of that Power very real. In accepting her Circular Plastics chair, prof. Ragaert also reflects on how academic leadership should see us through those pitfalls rather than straight into them.

You can rewatch the recording here.

Het werken aan een transitie zoals die naar een circulaire economie is complex. Als je hiermee aan de slag gaat als provincie of gemeente, hoe pak je dat dan aan? Om het werken aan een transitie makkelijker te maken heeft het IPO (Interprovinciaal Overleg) het Groene Brein en Drift gevraagd om deze wegwijzer te maken. De wegwijzer helpt je om de transitie naar een circulaire economie in de regio vorm te geven. We bespreken verschillende transitieperspectieven en verwijzen naar nuttige documenten waar je in het werken aan de transitie gebruik van kunt maken.

Plastics are controversial due to their productionfrom fossil fuels, emissions during production and disposal,potential toxicity, and leakage to the environment. In light ofthese concerns, calls to use less plastic products and move towardnonplastic alternatives are common. However, these calls oftenoverlook the environmental impacts of alternative materials. Thisarticle examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impact ofplastic products versus their alternatives. We assess 16 applicationswhere plastics are used across five key sectors: packaging, buildingand construction, automotive, textiles, and consumer durables.These sectors account for about 90% of the global plastic volume.Our results show that in 15 of the 16 applications a plastic productincurs fewer GHG emissions than their alternatives. In theseapplications, plastic products release 10% to 90% fewer emissionsacross the product life cycle. Furthermore, in some applications, such as food packaging, no suitable alternatives to plastics exist.These results demonstrate that care must be taken when formulating policies or interventions to reduce plastic use so that we do notinadvertently drive a shift to nonplastic alternatives with higher GHG emissions. For most plastic products, increasing the efficiencyof plastic use, extending the lifetime, boosting recycling rates, and improving waste collection would be more effective for reducingemissions.

Explore the growing challenges and promising solutions in global waste management. Discover how population growth, consumption patterns, and regulatory initiatives shape the future of municipal solid waste. From regional disparities to the imperative of effective waste management, uncover insights into recycling innovations and investment opportunities. Join the journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Dit rapport is opgesteld met twee redenen. Ten eerste wordt hiermee beoogd een uniforme toepassing van de circulariteitsstrategieën als analysekader te stimuleren. Zowel binnen als buiten het Werkprogramma M&S CE (in Nederland en daarbuiten) is er steeds meer aandacht voor het inventariseren van grondstofstromen of circulaire activiteiten volgens de circulariteitsstrategieën. Er zijn diverse circulariteitsladders in omloop, met soms strijdige definities. Een consistente aanpak maakt resultaten onderling vergelijkbaar en combineerbaar, en draagt ook bij aan de doorontwikkeling van het analysekader. Zodoende is dit rapport primair gericht op Nederlandse onderzoekers die aspecten van een circulaire economie willen indelen naar circulariteitsstrategieën. Ten tweede brengt dit rapport de ervaring die in de afgelopen jaren is opgedaan in de eerdergenoemde onderzoeken bij elkaar. Veel van de opgedane kennis met betrekking tot het toepassen van de circulariteitsstrategieën als analysekader is in verschillende (achtergrond)documenten beschreven. Door de methode vast te leggen in één rapport, ontstaat een gebundeld overzicht. Dit rapport geeft definities weer, maar beschrijft ook welke keuzes zijn gemaakt bij het toepassen van het kader in eerdere studies en de redenatie daarachter. De in dit rapport beschreven uitgangspunten zijn consistent met de toepassing van de circulariteitsladder in de ICER 2021 en 2023 (en de achtergrondstudies die daarvoor input hebben geleverd). De hieronder gepresenteerde definities en uitgangspunten zijn echter niet in beton gegoten. Wanneer nieuwe inzichten ontstaan, kan dat leiden tot een update van deze uitgangspunten.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), extensively employed in flexible plastic packaging, often undergoes printing with inks. However, during the mechanical recycling of post-consumer waste, these inks act as contaminants, subsequently compromising the quality and usability of recycled material. To understand better exactly which ink components cause which effects, this study comprehensively assesses the thermal behavior of three organic pigments and two commonly utilised binders, correlated with the impact on the mechanical recycling of LDPE-based flexible plastic packaging. In this regard, the study focuses on four pivotal factors: processability, mechanical properties, aesthetic attributes, and volatile organic compound profiles. The results indicate that nitrocellulose, used as a binder, degrades during reprocessing, resulting in film discoloration and the emission of potentially odorous compounds. Conversely, pigments are found to be dispersed within droplets of polyurethane binder in LDPE recyclates, whilst reprocessing printed samples detrimentally affects film properties, notably dart drop impact resistance, strain at break, and the number of inclusions. Additionally, it is shown that both inks comprise components that emit volatile compounds during reprocessing: non-thermally stable components, nitrocellulose and pigment yellow PY13, as well as low-molecular weight molecules from polyurethane and by-products from wax, plasticisers, and additives.
Keywords: Solvent-based ink; Mechanical recycling; Design for circularity

Flame-retarded polymers, such as polyester textiles and sheets, are attracting attention with regard to their sustainability. Mechanical recycling is currently the most frequently used technique for improving the circularity of plastics. However, one complication of mechanical recycling is associated with the (still) inevitable mixtures of polymers and additives, which can influence material stability and significantly deteriorate the mechanical properties of recycled products. In this study, we aim to specifically investigate the interactions between mixtures of phosphorus flame retardants (FRs) in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and evaluate their potential role in the mechanical recycling of melt-spun fibers. Two highly relevant commercial FRs, namely a DOPO-derivative (DOPO-PEPA or DP) and Aflammit PCO 900 (AF), are added to PET compounds as additives using a melt compounder. The melt stability of PET/FR compounds over extended processing time is assessed by chemical, thermal, and rheological measurements. DP shows a molecular lubrication effect, lowering the melt viscosity of PET, while AF promotes chemical changes (i.e., chain branching/crosslinking). Interestingly, a PET compound containing hybrid mixtures of DP/AF 20/80 (wt.%/wt.%) shows the most stable behavior at high temperatures under both nitrogen and air atmospheres, thus showing a synergistic effect. Most importantly, in a recycling scenario, the stabilization effect persists at diluted concentrations below the typical FR contents in PET. Multiple extrusion cycles are used to assess the repeated processing behavior of the compounds, and the mechanical properties and fire behavior of melt-spun fibers are compared before and after recycling. The results reveal that DP can maintain the mechanical performance of recycled PET/FR fibers, even if it is mixed (contaminated) with AF.

ROM-participaties helpen risicovolle innovatieve bedrijven

The report provides insights into the significant progress made in transitioning towards higher circularity in the plastics sector between 2018 and 2022. Key findings include:

• Exclusion of pre-consumer recycled plastics content from the measurement of circular plastics progress, aligning with the “Plastics Transition” roadmap.
• Transition in measuring recycled quantities to occur when recycling takes place, following the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) (EU) 2018/852.
• Majority of plastics waste incineration in the EU27+3 is for energy recovery.

The global bio-based polymer market is anticipated to witness a robust 17% annual growth from 2023 to 2028, driven primarily by demand from Asia and the USA. Europe lags behind due to insufficient political support. In 2023, notable increases in PLA and polyamide capacities were observed, along with advancements in epoxy resin production. The total production volume of bio-based polymers reached 4.4 million tonnes, constituting 1% of fossil-based polymers. Cellulose acetate and epoxy resins accounted for over half of bio-based production. The comprehensive report by the Nova-Institute forecasts these trends and provides detailed insights into market dynamics, capacities, and production data. The full report can be downloaded (€) here:  https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/

De Europese verpakkings- en verpakkingsafvalverordening en de Nederlandse circulaire plastic norm staan op het punt voltooid te worden tegen begin 2024. Deze wetgevingen zullen ingrijpende veranderingen in het gebruik van verpakkingen afdwingen, vooral in de levensmiddelenindustrie, die tweederde van alle kunststofverpakkingen omvat. Hoewel de nieuwe doelen nog onderhandeld worden, wordt duidelijk dat ze een grote impact zullen hebben op de sector. Het gebruik van gerecycled materiaal in voedselverpakkingen wordt momenteel beperkt door EU-richtlijnen, wat spanning veroorzaakt tussen circulaire economiedoelen en voedselveiligheid. Tegelijkertijd staat de recyclingindustrie onder druk door goedkoop nieuw plastic uit Azië en Amerika, waardoor bedrijven failliet gaan. Diverse belanghebbenden, zoals de petrochemie, recyclingbedrijven en supermarkten, hebben uiteenlopende standpunten over hoe de transitie naar een circulaire economie moet verlopen. Ondanks deze complexiteit bieden nieuwe inzichten hoop voor de toekomst, vooral met betrekking tot het produceren van hoogwaardig recyclaat en het sluiten van verpakkingskringlopen. Specifieker sorteren en nieuwe technologieën zijn cruciaal voor deze vooruitgang. Hoewel er nog onduidelijkheid bestaat over goedkeuringsprocedures, zijn er stappen mogelijk om het recyclaat zo schoon mogelijk te maken, waarmee het kunststofsysteem wordt voorbereid op de toekomstige eisen van de wetgevingen.

Lees verder hier: Recyclen in 2024: Veranderingen door nieuwe wetgeving (vakbladvoedingsindustrie.nl)

Peter Joore, Chair Network Applied Design Research: “The Netherlands emerges as a strategic partner for the Business of Design Week in Hong Kong, with Circular Design at its core in 2023. Spearheaded by CreativeNL, CLICKNL, the Netherlands Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao, and the Netherlands Innovation Network, the objective is to foster enduring international alliances. As Chair of the Network Applied Design Research (NADR), I am invigorated by this endeavor aligning with our core aspiration of global collaboration, particularly on sustainability and circularity. Our initiative to survey Circular Design Research in the Netherlands culminates in this publication, offering insights and exemplary practices curated by Dr. Ir. Marcel den Hollander and Ir. Marijke Idema, underpinned by expert advisories. This compendium aims to ignite dialogues and catalyze cooperative ventures between Dutch entities and their counterparts in Hong Kong, vital for sculpting a sustainable, circular, and livable world.”

Dit onderzoek werd door VNO-NCW uitgevoerd onder 139 bedrijven in de industrie in de periode december 2023-februari 2024. Benaderd zijn alle ETS-bedrijven (331) en enkele grote energie-intensieve industriebranches, actief in Nederland.

This article reveals a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The research focuses on the association between microplastics and adverse health outcomes. Conducted on over 200 individuals undergoing surgery, the study found that nearly 60% had microplastics in their main artery, correlating with a 4.5 times higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death within approximately 34 months. While not conclusive of causation, the presence of microplastics, predominantly polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, in arterial plaques suggests a potential link to inflammation and cardiovascular complications. The study underscores the urgent need for further research and global action to mitigate plastic pollution’s health impacts: Read the article here:  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00650-3

E-waste: Council adopts amendments to clarify who pays for management costs

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) amending Directive has been published in the EU’s Official Journal. It will enter into force on 8 April 2024 and Member States will have until 9 October 2025 to transpose the Directive into national law.

Earlier in March, the Council of the European Union had adopted amendments to #WEEE legislation, which includes a range of products such as computers, fridges and photovoltaic panels.

The amendments aim to bring the WEEE directive into line with a 2022 EU Court of Justice judgment on the partial invalidity of the directive owing to unjustified retroactive application of extended producer responsibility to waste from photovoltaic panels placed on the market between 13 August 2005 and 13 August 2012.

More details here: euric.link/5zm

The global bio-based polymer market is experiencing significant growth, with an expected annual increase of 17% from 2023 to 2028, primarily driven by demand from Asia and the USA. However, Europe lags behind due to insufficient political support. In 2023, bio-based polymer production reached 4.4 million tonnes, comprising 1% of total polymer production. The market report “Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2023–2028” provides comprehensive insights, including capacity development, production data, and market analysis. Asia leads in production capacities, while Europe’s share has decreased. The report anticipates Asia to continue leading growth, particularly in PLA, PHA, and PA.

Chemical recycling of polyurethane (PU) waste is
essential to displace the need for virgin polyol production and enable sustainable PU production. Currently, less than 20% of PU waste is downcycled through rebinding to lower value products than the original PU. Chemical recycling of PU waste often
requires significant input of materials like solvents and slow reaction rates. Here, we report the fast (<10 min) and solvent-free acidolysis of a model toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-based flexible polyurethane foam (PUF) at <200 °C using maleic – acid (MA) with a recovery of recycled polyol (repolyol) in 95% isolated yield. After workup (hydrolysis of repolyl ester and separations), the repolyol exhibits favorable physical properties that are comparable to the virgin polyol; these include 54.1 mg KOH/g OH number and 624 cSt viscosity. Overall, 80% by weight of the input PUF is isolated into two clean-cut fractions containing the repolyol and toluene diamine (TDA). Finally, end-of-life (EOL) mattress PUF waste is recycled successfully with high recovery of repolyol using MA acidolysis. The solvent-free and fast acidolysis with MA demonstrated in this work with both model and EOL PUF provides a potential pathway for sustainable and closed-loop PU production.

This study examines pathways for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in Germany’s chemical industry by 2050, focusing on key subsectors like ammonia and methanol. By analyzing carbon recycling’s impact on emissions and resource demand, it finds net-zero is attainable at a marginal cost of 640–900 €/tCO2-eq, despite fossil fuel dependency. Renewable chemicals act as carbon sinks, but their higher costs pose deployment challenges, with a marginal CO2 price of 480–810 €/tCO2-eq. Transitioning to net-zero requires embracing circular economy principles, reducing both resource demand and GHG abatement costs by 13%–24% through carbon capture and utilization.

Netherlands’ advantageous position offers access to abundant green energy, enabling supply to 450 million European consumers with circular products. By 2050, sustainable energy will power production, mobility, and housing, fostering biodiversity and reducing climate impact. Material passports will guide consumers toward circular choices, while innovative processes will transform waste into new resources. Despite the energy-intensive nature of the transition, the Netherlands stands poised to lead, leveraging its coastal energy resources and logistical advantages. Retaining and greening heavy industry will be crucial for achieving a fully circular, climate-neutral economy, ensuring long-term sustainability and prosperity. Read the full online magazine about Material Change here:  https://materialchange.jaarverslag.org/

The petrochemical industry is among the most relevant sectors from an economic, energetic and climate policy perspective. In Western Europe, production occurs in local chemical parks that form strongly connected and densely integrated regional clusters. This paper analyzes the structural characteristics of the petrochemical system in Germany and investigates three particularly distinct clusters regarding their challenges and chances for a transition towards climate-neutrality. For this, feedstock and energy supply, product portfolios and process integration as well as existing transformation activities are examined. We find that depending on their distinct network characteristics and location, unique and complex strategies are to be mastered for every cluster. Despite the many activities underway, none of them seems to have a strategic network to co-create a tailored defossilization strategy for the cluster – which is the core recommendation of this paper to develop.

This perspective combines various expertise to develop and analyse the concept of technology cascade for recycling waste plastics with the goal of displacing as much fossil crude oil as possible. It thereby presents archetype recycling technologies with their strengths and weaknesses. It then combines them in various cascades to process a representative plastic mix, and determines how much (fossil) naphtha could be displaced and at which energy consumption. The cascades rely on a limited number of parameters that are fully reported in supplementary information and that were used in a simple and transparent spreadsheet model. The calculated results bust several common myths in plastic recycling, e. g. by prioritizing here recycled volume over recycling efficiency, and prioritizing circular industry over circular products . It unravels the energy cost of solvent-based recycling processes, shows the key role of gasification and the possibility to displace up to 70% of the fossil feedstock with recycled carbon, a recycling rate that compares well with that aluminium, steel or paper. It suggests that deeper naphtha displacement would require exorbitant amount of energy. It therefore argues for the need to complement recycling with the use of renewable carbon, e. g. based on biomass, to fully defossilise the plastic industry.

Not specifically about plastics, but offering a wider perspective and featuring interviews on how to apply circular economy strategies, spotlight new systems, and assist entrepreneurs in their journey. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes you to The Circular Economy Show, a podcast discussing a new approach to designing, making, and using things, and how we can construct an economy suitable for the 21st century.

The podcast features multiple perspectives, including insights from Dr. Connie Bakker from TU Delft, discussing the application of circular design.

https://pod.link/1116732609/episode/de518b81f40ecf1f92ce6020b6dccc36

Dig into the biggest problems facing our current plastic recycling process, and explore potential solutions to these systems.

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If you’ve ever looked at the bottom of a disposable bottle or cup, you’ve probably noticed a recycling symbol. Seeing this, many people assume the item should be put in a recycling bin. Yet many plastics are incapable of being recycled at most centers. In fact, only 9% is recycled each year. So why are so few plastics recycled? And what do these symbols actually mean? Shannon Odell investigates.

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are among the most recycled polymers. However, these polymers present similar physicochemical characteristics and cross-contamination between them is commonly observed, affecting the quality of the recyclates. With the increasing demand for recycled plastics, understanding the composition of these materials is crucial. Numerous techniques have been introduced in the literature to determine the composition of recycled plastics. An ideal technique should be accessible, cost-efficient, fast, and accurate. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) emerges as a suitable technique since it analyzes the thermal behavior of compounds under controlled time and temperature conditions, entitling the quantitative determination of each component, e.g., in PE/PP blends. Nevertheless, the existing predictive methods lack accuracy in estimating the composition of PE/PP blends from DSC analysis since the composition of this blend affects its overall crystallinity. This study advances the state-of-the-art regarding this quantification using DSC by implementing a non-linear calibration curve correlating the evolutions of crystallinity with blend composition. Additionally, a machine-learned (ML) model is introduced and validated, achieving high accuracy for the composition determination, presenting an overall mean absolute error as low as 1.0 wt%. Notably, this ML-assisted approach can also quantify the content of subcategory polymers, enhancing its utility.

The ongoing discourse regarding the sustainability of bio-based products raises questions about the environmental advantages of substituting fossil fuels with bio-resources. In this study, researchers examined the environmental trade-offs of 98 emerging bio-based materials in comparison to their fossil counterparts, drawing from 130 studies. While the life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases for emerging bio-based products are on average 45% lower (-52 to -37%; 95% confidence interval), significant variability exists among individual bio-based products, none of which achieve net-zero emissions. Categorized by product type, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions range from 19% (-52 to 35%) for bioadhesives to 73% (-84 to -54%) for biorefinery products. Additionally, the study highlights an increase in eutrophication (369%; 163 to 737%) and underscores the importance of considering environmental trade-offs. These findings underscore the need for evaluating the environmental sustainability of bio-based products on a case-by-case basis and advocate for more innovative product developments to achieve climate-neutral objectives.

In a recent legal victory, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam (VU) law students successfully challenged Colgate-Palmolive’s (CP) recyclability claims regarding Ajax Limoen cleaner bottles before the Dutch advertising authority. The claims of “100% recyclable,” “cap and bottle recyclable,” and “bottle made from 100% recycled plastic” were deemed “misleading” by the Stichting Reclame Code (SRC) committee. The SRC’s decision, supported by the students, exposes the myth of plastic recyclability and holds companies accountable. The students argue that marketing claims portraying plastic as sustainable are irresponsible, asserting that plastic waste is often downcycled into low-quality materials or not recycled at all.

A scrutiny of Ajax bottles reveals their composition mainly as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a red high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cap. While technically recyclable, the recycling rates from mixed post-consumer plastic waste are limited to 39-50%, making the claim impractical. The students’ assertion that plastics are not sustainable under current recycling circumstances is supported, emphasizing the need for improved recycling practices. This blogpost delves into the complexities of plastic recycling, challenges the sustainability of current practices, and advocates for responsible marketing claims backed by verifiable evidence and certifications: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/longread-ajax-limoen-bottle-ruling-case-plastic-really-slijkoord-rwdre/

The battle against plastic pollution requires more than voluntary efforts from businesses. Ambitious, coordinated policy measures spanning the entire plastic life cycle are imperative. Despite recent treaty negotiations attempting to narrow the focus, governments must prioritize comprehensive solutions. The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting serves as a crucial platform for discussions, offering a unique opportunity to address the issue. Urgent steps are needed as current plastic life cycles remain primarily linear, with alarming statistics showing exponential growth in plastic production and waste. Voluntary initiatives, while beneficial, fall short in scale. A legally binding treaty, supported by the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, is advocated to establish harmonized regulations and eliminate plastic waste globally: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/plastic-pollution-call-for-global-treaty/

De Nationale Technologiestrategie (NTS), gepresenteerd namens het kabinet, biedt een leidraad voor strategisch technologiebeleid in Nederland. Ontwikkeld door het ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, benadrukt de strategie tien sleuteltechnologieën als essentieel voor een productiever, duurzamer, gezonder en veiliger Nederland. Met prioritaire technologieën waarvoor specifieke agenda’s zijn opgesteld, richt de NTS zich op het versterken van technologisch leiderschap. De strategie onderstreept de noodzaak voor scherpe keuzes, gezien beperkingen op het gebied van ruimte, arbeid en energie. Het rapport biedt inzicht in sterktes en uitdagingen, benoemt toepassingsgebieden en formuleert ambities. Samen met kansrijke groeimarkten en in afwachting van het nieuwe kabinet, dient de NTS als leidraad voor strategisch technologie-, innovatie-, industrie- en ondernemerschapsbeleid.

Key emerging economies are growing faster than the EU27 and the US, with China outpacing all others.

China has emerged as the global leader in chemical production, contributing over 40% to worldwide chemical sales and becoming EU27’s largest chemicals trade partner. Europe, grappling with economic challenges, has multiplied its trade dependency on China in the chemical sector by 4.5 times.

Read more about the Facts & Figures 2023 report from Cefic about the chemical industry here

In deze radio 1 uitzending wordt aan Maurice van Tilburg gevraagd naar de werking van het Nationaal Groeifonds.

Investeren in de toekomst van de Nederlandse economie: dat was het grote doel van het Nationaal Groeifonds, dat ruim drie jaar geleden werd opgericht door de toenmalige ministers Wopke Hoekstra en Eric Wiebes. Wat heeft het Nationaal Groeifonds de afgelopen jaren bereikt? En hoe ziet de toekomst eruit?

Presentator Jan Willem Wesselink

https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/goed-werk/101298/is-het-nationaal-groeifonds-een-succes-4-januari-2024

In Transparent 2023, the fourth installment of ReSource: Plastic’s reporting series, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) presents a comprehensive overview of the progress made by its Member companies in addressing the global plastic crisis in 2022. The report underscores the importance of eliminating unnecessary plastic, with ReSource Members successfully reducing problematic plastic in their portfolios from 3.2% in 2018 to 1.2% in 2022. It highlights the potential of reuse models and the ongoing exploration by all nine Members in integrating such strategies. The shift to sustainable inputs, including increased use of recycled content, is evident, though biobased content remains below 1%. The report emphasizes the need to double global recycling and composting efforts, addressing challenges with hard-to-recycle polymers. Furthermore, insights into data harmonization and the expansion of measurement and disclosure platforms underscore the vital role of collaborative action in achieving WWF’s vision of No Plastic in Nature by 2030.

De Nationale Circulaire Plastics Norm (NCPN) is een wetgeving die in 2027 van kracht wordt en bedrijven verplicht een bepaald percentage recyclaat in hun producten te verwerken. Het doel is om het gebruik van recyclaat te stimuleren en zo bij te dragen aan een circulaire economie. De implementatie van de NCPN omvat overleg met verschillende belanghebbenden, waaronder bedrijven, ministeries en brancheorganisaties. Er wordt gewerkt aan een administratief handelssysteem dat bedrijven in staat stelt om te onderhandelen over het gebruik van recyclaat, vergelijkbaar met de handel in CO2-emissierechten. Er zijn ook klankbordgroepen en technische werkgroepen actief om de precieze reikwijdte, controle, handhaving en andere aspecten van de wetgeving te bespreken. De exacte eisen met betrekking tot het percentage recyclaat in producten in 2030 moeten nog worden vastgesteld, maar er wordt verwacht dat er middelen beschikbaar zullen zijn om bedrijven te helpen bij de overgang naar het gebruik van recyclaat. Er zijn echter nog zorgen over het ontbreken van een level playing field en de impact van de norm op de Nederlandse industrie.

In Europe, recycling rates remain relatively low, with only 38% of waste in the EU being recycled (Eurostat, 2022). A rapid scale-up of recycling capacities and infrastructure is critical to meet the EU’s mandatory targets. We need to see plastic waste as a valuable resource and a key element of a circular economy. The idea behind circularity is to establish a continuous cycle, including collection, sorting, recycling and regeneration. https://cefic.org/media-corner/newsroom/unveiling-advances-in-chemical-recycling-a-conversation-with-professor-kevin-van-geem/

This report, published by PRE in partnership with ICIS, provides latest data and trends on: • the current state of flexible films market in Europe including production, demand, collection, and recycling; • key constraints and challenges faced across the flexible films value chain; • key factors driving future growth of flexible films recycling; and • way forward to develop a robust system for flexible films recycling in Europe. This is the second iteration of this market report with the first one published in 2020. PRE intends to continue to update and re-publish this ‘State of Play’ report biennially to provide a periodic narrative and assessment of the progress of flexible films recycling in Europe.

In dit advies kijkt de Raad voor de leefomgeving en infrastructuur (Rli) naar manieren waarop de wegwerptrend in onze economie kan worden gekeerd. Welke overheidsmaatregelen zijn daarvoor nodig, op Europees niveau en in Nederland?

Chemical recycling converts plastic waste into chemicals or raw materials using technologies like solvolysis, liquefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification. Solvolysis uses solvents to process polymers into monomers or secondary raw materials. Liquefaction and pyrolysis thermally convert polymers into smaller molecules, with pyrolysis occurring without oxygen. Gasification involves converting polymers into gas with limited oxygen. However, chemical recycling lacks a universal legal definition, posing challenges for compatibility with regulations and business planning. It is not yet a state-of-the-art technology, especially with contaminated materials, leading to frequent failures during development or commissioning. Mechanical recycling typically outperforms chemical recycling in CO2 emissions, although chemical recycling has potential ecological benefits over waste incineration. The complex processes and contaminated inputs challenge the practical detoxification of recycled materials. Successful chemical recycling requires integration with refinery or chemical sites to optimize recovery and disposal. Despite technical and economic hurdles, pilot projects continue, driven by socio-political factors and financial resources.

Plastics – the fast Facts shows preliminary global and European plastics production data. It also provides European plastics industry’s key economic figures, trade balance, top trade partners, and preliminary estimations of European plastics conversion. For a more complete and in-depth analysis of the plastics circular economy in Europe, please refer to Plastics Europe’s biennial “Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Overview” reports. Download the report here

The document discusses the governance issues surrounding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and their impact on the effectiveness of EPR in addressing environmental concerns. It highlights the need for EPR schemes to focus on the entire lifecycle of products, including design, production, and use-phase, rather than solely on end-of-life management. The absence of harmonization across Europe, inadequate cost coverage, and the non-inclusion of stakeholders outside the EU are identified as major obstacles. The concept of free riders benefiting from EPR systems without contributing their share of the costs is also addressed. The document recommends combining EPR with other economic policies and provides legislative measures to advance the working of EPR, making it an effective environmental tool that helps achieve reduction, prevention, and separate collection of waste.

Deze studie onderzoekt de haalbaarheid van de invoering van een voorgestelde nationale norm voor een minimumaandeel recyclaat en biogebaseerde kunststoffen en rubber in producten van Nederlandse verwerkers voor de Nederlandse markt. Het doel is om bij te dragen aan een 60% reductie in CO2-uitstoot tegen 2030 en de vervanging van primair fossiel plastic. De norm streeft ernaar de plastic keten te sluiten en CO2-uitstoot te verminderen door het gebruik van recyclaat en biogebaseerde materialen te bevorderen. Het onderzoek belicht mogelijke uitdagingen zoals administratieve lasten voor verwerkers en de noodzaak van ondersteunende instrumenten. De onderzoeksresultaten geven aan dat er variërende haalbaarheid en uitdagingen zijn met betrekking tot de beschikbaarheid, testen en juridische aspecten van recyclaat en biogebaseerde materialen. Onderzoek is uitgevoerd in opdracht van het ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (IenW).

The collaborative efforts in the plastics ecosystem are highlighted as best practices in the material transition by the document from Holland Circular Hotspot.

Deze whitepaper bespreekt de overgang van plasticvrij naar toekomstbestendige kunststoffen en hoe kunststoffen kunnen worden gebruikt in een circulaire economie. Het benadrukt de noodzaak van duurzame productie en recycling van kunststoffen, evenals de ontwikkeling van alternatieve oplossingen voor het gebruik van kunststoffen in verschillende sectoren. Daarnaast wordt de Europese strategische langetermijnvisie voor een klimaatneutrale economie besproken.

Dit rapport is opgesteld in opdracht van Invest-NL en GCNE om oplossingen te vinden voor de problemen met de status van einde-afval. Het huidige systeem voor het aantonen van de conversie van afval naar veilige producten is uitdagend. Er zijn Europese regelgeving en Nederlandse maatregelen genomen om de barrières rondom de einde-afvalstatus aan te pakken. Voorgestelde oplossingen omvatten het introduceren van vrijwillige certificering en het maken van een beslissing als eindpunt. Verduidelijking van criteria voor zelfbeoordeling en statusbeoordeling is belangrijk. Het gebruik van een beslissing als eindpunt wordt voorgesteld om aan te sluiten bij Europese ontwikkelingen en internationale handelskwesties aan te pakken.

These podcasts bring you the most recent knowledge and best practices of the circular plastic economy. Topsoe Product Line Director, Milica Folić, is joined by major market players and industry experts to dive into a broad spectrum of circular plastic topics. Together, they will cover the latest trends in plastic types, recycling technologies, and legislation.

https://www.topsoe.com/circular-plastic-podcast?utm_id=0011171567485

This document discusses the necessary developments for a sustainable circular society, emphasizing the need for large-scale, efficient cycles for (bio)materials and electrification of high-temperature processes. It also highlights the importance of societal support and responsible industrial water usage. The document addresses the challenges of scarcity of sustainable raw materials and the need for regulation of demand from various sectors. Additionally, it presents a case study of a fictional chemical complex, CHEM-NL, to illustrate the transition to renewable raw materials and energy, and discusses the impact of transition choices on safety, the environment, and societal acceptance.

Waste management is a critical component of a circular economy, which is needed to combat waste, resource scarcity, and CO2 emissions. The document emphasizes the importance of waste management in achieving the Paris climate goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Netherlands is highlighted as a front-runner in waste management and circular economy. Various companies and technologies in waste management, recycling, and circular economy are mentioned, showcasing innovative approaches. The document discusses the evolution of waste management in Europe and the role of economic steering instruments like landfill taxes and Extended Producer Responsibility. It also provides a toolkit for establishing a sound waste management infrastructure and discusses waste management in the Latin American region. The section concludes by highlighting the importance of financial mechanisms, public awareness, and education in promoting waste management and circular economy.

CHEM Trust publishes a detailed report on ‘Chemical Recycling’, a set of technologies that are often claimed to be on the cusp of revolutionising the recycling of plastics. This study finds that these technologies in reality have major problems, including substantial energy use, a need for pre-sorted, good quality plastic input and concerns over hazardous chemicals.

The report, “Chemical Recycling: State of Play“, written by the environmental consultancy Eunomia, reviews available information on a large number of different chemical recycling technologies, and attempts to assess their performance and feasibility, including their energy use, climate impacts, to what extent they are able to address hazardous chemicals and how they might fit into waste management systems.

This study addresses the critical need for detailed knowledge regarding polymer flows in the anthroposphere and their impact on the environment, essential for effective plastic management. Focusing on five specific polymers—polyurethane (PUR), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)—probabilistic material flow analysis (PMFA) was employed. The analysis traced polymer flows from production across 45 product categories to end-of-life scenarios in Europe and Switzerland. Results revealed significant variations in polymer flows, influenced by their diverse applications. The study estimated macro- and microplastic emissions into Switzerland’s environment for 2018, indicating masses of 208±76 t for PA, 179±98 t for PUR, 79±26 t for PC, 36±23 t for PMMA, and 25±6 t for ABS. These emissions represented a small fraction relative to Switzerland’s total production and imports, challenging previous, potentially inflated, estimates and suggesting a more realistic scenario for countries with effective waste treatment systems.

Projected plastic production volumes are rising, as is societal and political attention to plastic pollution and possible health impacts. In line with ambitions for climate mitigation and the circular economy, various national and international policies and action plans address the reduction of impacts of plastics. Quantitative scenario analyses show that even if current ambitious targets to reduce plastics are achieved, plastics will remain a source of millions of tons of environmental pollution annually. To achieve a sustainable transformation of the global plastics economy, ‘extraordinary effort’ and ‘coordinated global action’ beyond current ambitions are needed. While mapping knowledge gaps for the effects of micro and nano plastics (MNP) is crucial, mapping alone is not enough to achieve the needed transition. In this communication, we propose a scope for the exploration of societal transformation pathways to safe and sustainable plastics. To see which efforts are needed globally we need to advance in the following three areas: (i) embedding risk assessment methodologies in wider cost-benefit and life cycle analyses; (ii) using safe-and-sustainable design strategies that include alternative solutions and look at multiple life cycles, and (iii) reflecting on the societal transformation pathways with stakeholders by using co-created quantitative models. We believe that these practices are crucial in the coming decade to realise the extraordinary effort of defining safe and sustainable plastics.
Keywords: Plastic; Impact assessment; Safe & sustainable; Life cycle; Circular economy; Transition; Co-creation. By: Susanne Waaijers-van der Loop, Anne van Bruggen, Nick R.M. Beijer, Adrienne Sips, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Flemming Cassee, Willie Peijnenburg