New article by Sebastian Kahlert and Catharina R. Bening published in Resource, Conservation and Recycling
Scientific analysis and media coverage of rampant plastic pollution has taken a toll on the material's reputation in recent years, fueling talk of a “plastic crisis”. Brand owners have made ambitious pledges to overcome this crisis—but can voluntary commitments turn the tide?
The article titled "Why pledges alone will not get plastics recycled: Comparing recyclate production and anticipated demand" looks at the flow of PET from production to recycling and uptake across end markets in Europe. Compared to the pledges by brand owners such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo, a 53% increase of recyclate output - or a doubling of the recycling growth rate - is required.
The authors further find that
- Continued plastic production and consumption can account for 30% of the carbon budget in a 1.5°C scenario
- Widespread adoption of deposit return systems for bottles alone will not be sufficient - trays, sheets and other applications need to be collected and recycled to food grade material as well
- Increasing demand, also from other industries (e.g., textiles, automotive) drives the recyclate price - with premiums of up to 100% compared to virgin PET (before the surge of oil prices due to the war in Ukraine)
To realize the pledges, substantial investments and a regulatory framework for the targeted and sensible use of PET recyclate are necessary.
The full paper is available here: Downloadhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344922001276vertical_align_bottom