Heidi Finch’s Post

OUTLOOK: US recycled plastics weather mixed demand, new capacity as pivotal year, 2025, approaches Although the broader US recycled plastics market has yet to see the full recovery as hoped by this time, there still remain opportunities and challenges through year end. https://lnkd.in/dabD-sqc #ICIS #ICISoutlook #plastics #recycledplastics #recycling #R-PET #R-PE #chemicals #chems

OUTLOOK: US recycled plastics weather mixed demand, new capacity as pivotal year, 2025, approaches Although the broader US recycled plastics market has yet to see the full recovery as hoped by this time, there still remain opportunities and challenges through year end. https://lnkd.in/gzWqsfmg #ICIS #ICISoutlook #plastics #recycledplastics #recycling #R-PET #R-PE #chemicals #chems

OUTLOOK: US recycled plastics weather mixed demand, new capacity as pivotal year, 2025, approaches Although the broader US recycled plastics market has yet to see the full recovery as hoped by this time, there still remain opportunities and challenges through year end. https://buff.ly/46RaokA #ICIS #ICISoutlook #plastics #recycledplastics #recycling #R-PET #R-PE #chemicals #chems

This is one option for dealing with the plastic recycling problem.

So you've just bought a product that is 100% recycled plastic. But what does this actually mean? The truth is that it may not even contain any recycled materials. Deep dive into the fascinating world of mass-balanced plastics in chemical recycling, and what's in store for the future. https://lnkd.in/gwVih8Ed #massbalance #plastics #chemicalrecycling

A research team is developing a method to recycle more plastics Despite consumer efforts to sort and separate recyclables, most plastic bottles still end up in the landfill. Standard recycling methods to sort, shred and remake plastics are limited to just type-1 and type-2 plastics—basically only soda bottles, water bottles and milk jugs. Global plastic production has increased from 2 million tons in 1950 to 360 million tons in 2018, and about 50% of that plastic becomes trash after a single use. By 2050, it's predicted that 12 billion tons of plastic waste will be in the environment and landfills. A prominent means of chemical recycling is called pyrolysis," Schug said. "During pyrolysis, plastics are heated in an oxygen-free environment until they decompose into pyrolysis oils. These oils have much of the same characteristics as crude oil, with a few exceptions. Importantly, they can be further refined into fuels, and even better, turned into chemical feedstocks to make new plastics." However, the pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste does create some complex mixtures that manufacturers must examine closely. Contaminants such as sulfur and nitrogen can create chemical compounds that can hurt downstream processing strategies. created a new supercritical fluid chromatography method that can separate the pyrolysis oils. The researchers found they could clearly differentiate oils created from polyethylene versus polypropylene feedstocks. "This is just the beginning, but we're very excited at the potential of this technique to differentiate oils produced from many different plastics and mixtures," Schug said. "Finding a way to better recycle these plastics will help us reduce our reliance on new fossil fuels, and hopefully, do our part to stop contributing to climate change."

The US Plastics Pact recently reported that despite limited supply, leading producers achieved 9.4% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content usage in 2022. The Pact is aiming to triple that by 2025, and with the EPA's target for a 50% recycling rate by 2030, they're looking to policy, research and innovation as critical pathways towards progress. Freepoint Eco-Systems' advanced technologies reach new heights in post consumer recycling, boosting supply in support of national recycling goals. #PCR #sustainablepackaging #plasticscircularity #reduce #reuse #recycle

“…the safest rule to stick to is recycling only number 1 and 2 plastics. But you should also check with your local recycling program to see which types of plastics it accepts, as some facilities recycle, for example, polypropylene (number 5), the plastic commonly used in yogurt containers.” because #plasticisnotfantastic, be #conscientious, be a #smarterconsumer. #recyclingtips #theothernumber1&number2

Recycling plastic can significantly save fossil fuels compared to producing new plastic products from raw materials. The recycling process typically uses less energy and, therefore, reduces the fossil fuel consumption associated with both the extraction of oil (the feedstock for most plastic) and the manufacturing processes. Energy Savings from Recycling Plastics: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Recycling PET can save about 76% of energy compared to producing new PET from raw materials. This translates to a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption because PET is a common plastic used in packaging, especially for beverages. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Recycling HDPE can save around 70% of the energy required to create new HDPE. PP (Polypropylene): Recycling polypropylene can also yield significant energy savings. General Estimates: While specific numbers vary by study and methodology, it is often cited that recycling plastic can save between 30% to 80% of the energy involved in making new plastic products, which directly correlates with fossil fuel savings. Conclusion: Recycling Everywhere: Expanding the recycling infrastructure and promoting recycling among consumers can lead to substantial energy and fossil fuel savings. Types of Plastics: Generally, PET and HDPE tend to yield the highest fossil fuel savings when recycled. Encouraging plastic recycling not only conserves fossil fuels but also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and decreases reliance on petroleum resources. #theplanet #plasticrecycling #fossilfuel #pet #hdpe #savetheplanet #oil #fuel #scrap

2023 stats from the US Plastics Pact. The goals for 2025 will be very hard to achieve from this start point. 50%: The portion of plastic packaging that activators placed on the market that is reusable, recyclable or compostable. That’s up from 47.7% in 2022. The target is 100% by 2025. (that's 50% MINIMUM to landfill) 11%: The average postconsumer recycled content or biobased content in activators’ packaging portfolios. That’s up from 9% in 2022. The target is 30% by 2025. 9% to 11% - then 30% next year? https://lnkd.in/eD8WjS3B