Technical Limits in Circularity for Plastic Packages

Technical Limits in Circularity for Plastic Packages

Author

Marieke T. Brouwer et al

Year
2020
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Technical Limits in Circularity for Plastic Packages

Marieke T. Brouwer et al 2022 (View Paper → )

The performance of the recycling value chain can be optimised at four stages: packaging design, collection, sorting, and recycling. This study explores the maximally achievable performance of a circular PPW (plastic packaging waste) recycling value chain, in case all stakeholders would implement the required radical improvement measures in a concerted action. The effects of the measures were modelled with material flow analysis.

We would need a huge amount of coordination and investment to achieve the optimal recycling rate of plastics of 72%. We can’t recycle our way out of the plastic problem, we have to cut back.