CreaSolv® Process’ Post

An informative article on PET bottle journey from raw material extraction till disposal. And recommendations how the world can cut plastic pollution by 80 percent by 2040. Here’re some ways to make it possible: ▪ Reforming fossil fuels subsidies to shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy. ▪ Tackling the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the transportation of plastics via ships or other methods. ▪ Promoting circular economy practices to decrease plastic pollution and encourage zero waste approaches to reduction, reuse, redesign and recycling. ▪ Investing in innovation to design-out plastic waste and scale-up eco-friendly materials and models. ▪ Empowering informal waste workers to improve their livelihoods, promote social inclusion and revamp the efficiency of plastic waste management systems. #plastics #recycling #reduce #waste #sustainability #emissions #circulareconomy

Recycle and Reuse with Electrochemistry! ♻️ Learn how the University of Colorado Boulder is revolutionizing plastic recycling. Their innovative method uses electrolysis and chemical reactions to decompose PET plastic, potentially transforming plastic waste management worldwide. Learn more about this #BetterWorldProject and the potential for a sustainable future: https://bit.ly/3YEoRhN

Think plastic is the worst? Time for a reality check. Being in the packaging industry, I often get asked about the environmental impact of plastic. 💥 So let's bust some myths: 💡 Glass production emits roughly 1 kg CO2 per bottle, a heavyweight in carbon footprint. Despite its recyclability, the energy required for both production and recycling is immense. 💡 Aluminium, celebrated for a 70% recycling rate, still consumes vast amounts of energy, emitting about 8 tons of CO2 per ton of produced metal. Its recycling saves up to 95% of the energy required for new aluminium, and that, I agree is a silver lining. 💡 Plastic, the villain of environmental sustainability, surprisingly emits less during production. Yes! Plastic bottles have a significantly lower carbon footprint than aluminium cans and glass, mainly due to less carbon-intensive production and transportation. Despite aluminium and glass having higher recycling rates, their environmental impact is worse. The opportunity, therefore, lies in improving the recycling rate of plastic, because currently, it is quite at just 9%. Most of our plastic waste – a whopping 79 percent – ends up in landfills or in nature. Some 12 percent is incinerated. The problem isn't the material but our management of it. Revolutionizing waste management and enhancing recycling processes stand as our beacon of hope, not merely swapping one material for another. Ready to challenge conventional wisdom on packaging? Share your thoughts! #RethinkPackaging #SustainableChoices #WasteNotWantNot

Plastic Recycling (5) – “Recycling has become a Greenwashing Term. The EU Waste Directive from 1975 defines “recovery” and refers to a list of operations including recycling of organic substances, metals and inorganic materials. The version from 2008 defines “preparing for re-use” - means checking, CLEANING or repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing; “recycling” - means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations; Chemists may not distinguish between CLEANING and a physical SEPARATION and/or PURIFACTION, what would make #PhysicalRecycling (synonym: #MaterialRecycling) processes to a #PreparationforREUSE. But this is obviously not the interpretation of the inventors of our #WasteDirectives. They focus on “recycling” quota based on a definition that is so broad that it applies to everything except energy and fuel. No wonder that all recovery operations (regardless whether they break down polymers into the smallest pieces possible) are called recycling. Since centuries we separate & purify substances with physical processes. Those are also applied to separate chemicals needed for the polymerization of polymers. It is hard to believe that everybody has forgotten about this and we only debate about mechanical vs. chemical recycling. It should matter to our #CircularEconomy experts and legislators, what recovery processes produce as output, what energy they consume or what their CO2 footprint is? Actually, #mechanicalrecycling and #combustion are the only options at industrial scale for plastic waste besides disposal and export. It is mysterious, that we don’t apply the knowledge we have in order to transfer to a #CircularEconomy. It would start with distinguishing between processes which allow us to reuse polymers and which don’t. It makes no sense to step down the #ValueChain if one doesn’t need to. Stay tuned! #plasticwaste #recycling #plasticrecycling, #MaterialRecycling, #PhysicalRecycling, #EUgreenDeal, #SolventbasedPurification, #DissolutionRecycling

♻️ Discover the recycling of pretreated polyolefin-based ocean-bound plastic waste by incorporating clay and rubber. This study explores innovative ways to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable materials. 📖 Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gPfSrZyP Authors: Martey, S. et al. #PlasticRecycling #Sustainability #OceanPollution #GreenMaterials

PLASTIC RECYCLING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS. Plastic recycling has emerged as a critical aspect of waste management, yet it faces numerous challenges. One major hurdle is the complexity of plastic materials, which come in various types that require different recycling processes. Contamination also poses a significant issue, as impurities in recycled plastic can compromise its quality and usability. Moreover, inadequate infrastructure and collection systems in many regions hinder effective recycling efforts, leading to significant amounts of plastic ending up in landfills or oceans. However, despite these challenges, there are several promising solutions to improve plastic recycling. Advanced sorting technologies utilizing artificial intelligence and robotics can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of plastic sorting, reducing contamination levels. Innovation in chemical recycling techniques allows for the breakdown of complex plastics into their basic building blocks, enabling the creation of high-quality recycled materials. Furthermore, increased investment in recycling infrastructure and public awareness campaigns can help improve collection rates and encourage responsible plastic disposal practices. By addressing these challenges and implementing innovative solutions, the journey towards a more sustainable plastic recycling ecosystem becomes feasible. Through collaboration among governments, industries, and communities, we can strive towards a future where plastic waste is minimized, and recycling becomes the norm. #PlasticRecycling #RecyclingChallenges #RecyclingSolutions #PlasticPollution #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #RecyclingInfrastructure #ArtificialIntelligence #ChemicalRecycling #RecyclingTechnology #EnvironmentalProtection #WasteReduction #PlasticWaste #RecyclingAwareness #RecyclingEfficiency #GreenFuture #ZeroWaste #PlasticFree #OceanConservation

**Polyethylene Recycling: A Step Towards a Sustainable Future** Polyethylene (PE), one of the most commonly used plastics, is found in everyday items like packaging, plastic bags, and bottles. Recycling this material is crucial for reducing plastic waste and environmental impact. The recycling process begins with **collection and sorting**, where used polyethylene products are separated by type and cleaned to remove impurities. Next comes **shredding**, where the plastic is cut into small pieces, followed by **washing** to remove any remaining contaminants. These plastic flakes are then melted and **extruded** into pellets, which serve as the raw material for creating new products. This closed-loop process helps reduce reliance on virgin plastic, conserving energy and resources. However, challenges like contamination and downcycling—where recycled plastic is of lower quality—remain. Advancements in recycling technologies, such as chemical recycling, are helping address these challenges, making polyethylene recycling more efficient and eco-friendly. With global plastic pollution on the rise, polyethylene recycling is a critical step in achieving a circular economy and reducing our environmental footprint. #Sustainability #PlasticRecycling #CircularEconomy #GreenFuture #PolyethyleneRecycling

Also your paper cup contains PLA - “…But PLA is bio based” Yes. Let’s look at it. PLA is technically recyclable, but the process is more complex than for traditional plastics. PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane, and while it is compostable in industrial composting facilities, it requires specific conditions for recycling. The key challenges with PLA recycling are: Specialized Facilities: PLA can’t be recycled in traditional plastic recycling streams (like PET or HDPE plastics) because it has different properties. It requires specialized facilities for chemical or mechanical recycling, which are not widely available. Separation Issues: In recycling facilities, PLA can contaminate other recycling streams if not properly separated. When mixed with traditional plastics, it can affect the quality of the recycled material. Composting: PLA is often marketed as compostable, but it typically needs industrial composting conditions (high heat and humidity) to break down. It won’t decompose properly in home composting systems or in a landfill. So, while PLA is recyclable in theory, its actual recyclability depends on having access to the right facilities, which are limited. And now my question is: Why not using a water based barrier coating instead, which recyclability is more efficient, easier, don’t require specialized facilities and is able to recycle in the normal paper stream? #BarrierCoating #ResinoInks #SUPD #Recycling #PLA #PaperCups

Introducing another installment of our Myth vs. Reality series. Myth: Advanced recycling is too expensive and impractical. There's a common misconception that advanced recycling methods are prohibitively expensive and impractical compared to traditional recycling processes. This belief often stems from the perception that advanced technologies are complex and costly to implement on a large scale. Additionally, some may argue that the infrastructure required for advanced recycling is not widely available or economically viable. As a result, there's skepticism about the feasibility of advanced recycling as a solution to plastic waste management. Reality: Advances in technology and scaling of operations are making advanced recycling increasingly cost-effective and feasible, offering a promising solution to end-of-life plastic recycling. Contrary to the myth, significant progress has been made in advancing recycling technologies, making them more cost-effective and scalable. Innovations in chemical processes, catalysis, and material science have led to the development of more efficient and economically viable methods for breaking down and repurposing plastics at the molecular level. These advancements have reduced energy consumption, processing time, and overall costs associated with advanced recycling. Moreover, as demand for sustainable solutions grows and economies of scale are realized, the cost-effectiveness of advanced recycling continues to improve. Increased investment and research in this field have led to the development of streamlined and integrated recycling systems that can efficiently handle large volumes of plastic waste. #AdvancedRecycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #PlasticRecycling

Its is necessary to adopt a global agreement that requires the petrochemical industries to implement a gradual replacement program for plastic and to bear part of the cost for the environmental damage caused.