Hedgehog’s Post

8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced, 6.3 billion tons wasted, only 9% recycled. After 40+ years, we still have a plastic pollution crisis, not a sourcing problem. FMCG giants like The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Mars crank out single-use packaging, blame consumers for recycling failures, and call it sustainability. Here’s the truth: most plastics end up in landfills, where modern LFGTE systems turn trash into renewable energy. But instead of designing packaging to work in real waste systems, they keep pushing the recycling fantasy and ignoring the scalable solutions under their noses. It’s 2025—time to stop the greenwashing, ditch the finger-pointing, and design plastics that actually deliver value where they end up. Want real impact? Fix what’s in front of you.

this is one of the best graphics explaining the problem with plastic. the question is why? why is plastic recycling so out of step with plastic consumption and waste? part of the reason is material value - plastic degrades in the recycling process and become worthless. part of it is the back end facility capacity level. there's not enough to keep up with the run-away demand and discarding of plastic. Solution: part structural. Innovation on how we organize access to food, bev. and household goods, like cleaning materials. It can all function on the basis of refill stations. And the other part is human behavior: think before you act. Pause before you buy. Check your urge for efficiency and consuming on the go. Consume in place, in space, mindfully and in full presence of your environmental selves. #reduce #systemredesign #cleanup #refill Binit Technologies

♻️ A deep dive into plastic recycling. Globally, just 9% of all plastic waste, is recycled. Why, you wonder? Financially, recycling is not yet profitable. 🤔 Global plastic production is enormous, and so is the amount of plastic waste: each year, this amounts to 350 million tons of plastic waste worldwide. Plastic is not "one material"; there are various types. Plastics consist of polymers; long chains of the same (or very similar) molecules that form chains together. The exact appearance of these chains determines the properties of the final product and whether and how the plastic can be recycled. Read all you want to know about recycling:  💡 What happens to plastic waste? 💡 Is plastic waste really exported abroad? 💡 Why isn’t all plastic recycled? 💡 Ways to recycle:Post-industrial recycling & post-consumer recycling 💡 Methods of plastic recycling 💡 So, how to be sustainable with plastic & recycling? Go to the article: https://lnkd.in/ev3XHXcw —--------------------------- Plastic & plastic recycling is one of our focus sectors. Reach out to us if you want to know how sustainability can work for you 💚

technology at its optimum level

The world has a waste problem. How can we help solve it? If it’s not recycled, plastic can be either incinerated or sent to landfill. We believe that turning waste into new resources represents a crucial step in tackling this concern. Our use of certified recycled polymers is one way we’re working to minimise our dependency on fossil-based resources, in an effort to move towards a circular economy. https://bit.ly/3XkaONJ

I recently read an insightful article in New Scientist about the transformative potential of advanced recycling technologies. Initially, I was skeptical about recycled plastics, feeling it perpetuates the existing plastic industry. However, these new methods could revolutionize plastic use by converting any type of waste plastic into new plastic repeatedly, promoting a circular economy and significantly reducing environmental impact. The article notes, “The goal is to create a circular economy for this material where there is no longer any need to make virgin plastic from crude oil.” For more details, check out the article here. https://lnkd.in/dHgbYbbr

I agree with the observation that the “waste hierarchy” mentioned below is not necessarily sequential. Apart from that, this post effectively captures the current state of industry and sustainability.

Empty PCR Bottles 👉 Environmental Sustainability: Using recycled materials significantly reduces the need to extract and process virgin plastics, minimizing the environmental impact of production. 👉 Reduced Waste: PCR tubes help to divert plastic waste from landfills, promoting a circular economy where materials are reused instead of being discarded. 👉 Lower Carbon Footprint: The manufacturing process for PCR tubes uses less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin plastic production. 👉 Cost-Effective: While PCR material can be slightly more expensive to source initially, manufacturers can often offset these costs by using less virgin plastic and by taking advantage of government incentives for using recycled materials. 👉 Positive Brand Image: Choosing PCR tubes demonstrates a brand’s commitment to sustainability and appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.

Totally agree! Hence, products must be more than just 'recyclable'. Using disposable tableware like palm leaf plates allows companies to take a step further in order to reduce their carbon footprint. #biodegradable #compostable #wastemanagement #ecoleafproducts

At Upsyde, we specialize in processing #plastic #waste that was destined to incineration or to fill up landfills. Giving waste new life, Upsyde accelerates the transition to a #circular economy:   What is low-quality and hard-to-recycle waste?   ♻️ Low-quality and hard-to-recycle plastic waste lacks value in recycling due to composition, contamination, shape and size, or degradation.   #Upcycling waste economically requires efficient operations and unique know-how.   💡 With our patented technology, Upsyde is able to transform waste into higher-quality durable goods, creating shared value by addressing the challenge of upcycling.   Learn more about the potential sources we use: https://lnkd.in/ds5jKEPj   🌐 Website: www.upsyderecycling.com 📧 Email: sales@upsyderecycling.com 📞 Tel:+31 (0) 49 563 01 10     #Upsyde #Braskem #Wenew #EmpoweredByBraskem #Recycling #Plasticwaste #CircularEconomy