It is estimated that by 2050 nearly 60 percent of global plastics production could be based on reuse and recycling. PlasticsEurope members are already investing and teaming up with innovative value chain partners to ramp up chemical recycling and other technology solutions.  

Speaking at the “Closing the loop on chemical recycling in Europe” event in Brussels, Markus Steilemann, President of Plastics Europe and CEO of Covestro, commented: “Chemical recycling is a game-changer and a key building block of the circular economy – not only in Europe. This increased investment confirms the determination of the industry to address the problem of plastic waste and supports the EU Green Deal’s climate and sustainability ambitions. However, this is just a starting point, and sizeable investments are still needed to fully capture the value of this technology.”
 
Colin Yates, Packaging Sustainability Director at Mars Pet Nutrition said: “This is an exciting and welcome development as we reduce, redesign and invest to close the loop on our packaging. The ability of chemical recycling to convert mixed plastic waste, otherwise destined for landfill or incineration, into food-grade resins, will be an important step in enabling Mars and other manufacturers to meet our ambition of ensuring our packaging is part of a truly circular economy.”

Scaling up this technology, and delivering broader systemic change requires a tool kit that includes many solutions - diversification of feedstock, new infrastructure, business models, new materials, waste prevention, and eco-design, amongst others. From an industry perspective, it is also vital that policy-makers create a policy and regulatory framework that provides certainty and incentivizes further investment.

Markus Steilemann adds that: “To capitalize on the potential of chemical recycling we need a harmonized and strong single market framework. We need to harness the power of the EU Single Market and protect its integrity. We should also recognize that we have a shared interest in future-proofing our economy and asset base in Europe with innovative technologies like chemical recycling.”

Working with public and private partners via alliances at the local, national, and global levels to encourage appropriate recycling, reuse, and recovery of plastic waste pollution is key. With a projected contribution of 1,2 Mt of recycled plastics produced through chemical recycling by 2025, Plastics Europe plays a role in delivering on the European Commission’s Circular Plastics Alliance target of 10 Mt recycled plastics used in European products by 2025.

“Based on a unique approach to the circular economy, we believe that embracing and investing in a hierarchy of technologies, ranging from mechanical to chemical recycling, delivers the optimum circular solution for the value chain with less impact on the environment. This approach will enable the plastics industry to achieve its ambitious recycling targets and will contribute to more sustainable living.”, confirms Lucrèce Foufopoulos, Executive Vice President - Polyolefins and Circular Economy and CTO, Borealis.