The Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam is the right place for anyone interested in the circular economy of plastics. It brings together players from the plastics and plastics recycling industry. This year’s main topic: the latest developments in plastics recycling and the circular economy. We visited the event for you and summarised key figures and statements from important stakeholders.
Fundamentals
Regulation was also one of the key topics here, with Werner Bosman, Team Leader, Plastics’ of the European Commission, for example, emphasising that the goal is to make plastics even more recyclable in the future. The European Commission has taken concrete measures to promote plastics recycling as part of the Green Deal and the circular economy strategy.
Quotas for the use of recycled plastic
According to Bosman, the ambitious political goals pose exciting challenges for the industry. By 2025, 10 million tonnes of recycled plastics are to be used in new products (also outside of packaging). The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) stipulates specific quotas for the use of recycled materials in the packaging sector by 2030. These measures are intended to help close the plastic loop.
Current situation and potential
According to Bosman, only half of the 60 million tonnes of plastic produced in Europe are collected and sorted. In the end, only a third is actually recycled. So there is still a long way to go…
Following Bosman’s statement, thirteen times more plastic could be recycled and more high-quality recyclate produced if plastic were collected separately. An increased focus on the separate collection of plastics could provide the necessary remedy here.
Mechanical and chemical recycling
When it comes to the question of quantitatively and qualitatively better recycling, the debate always centres on mechanical versus chemical recycling.
Bosman implied,
- that the European Commission considers both recycling methods to be important, although they play different roles.
- Mechanical recycling is generally considered to be the preferred method as it is usually more environmentally friendly, but chemical recycling is seen as an important complementary technology to mechanical recycling.
- The Commission emphasises that it is not a question of competition between the two methods, but an important step towards achieving the circular economy goals.
- Nevertheless, chemical recycling is not yet included in the legally required recycling rates.
The last point in particular is critical, as it is precisely this legal basis that would be crucial to the success of new plants, according to members of Plastic Europe.
Plastics Europe members have announced significant investments of €8 billion in recent months. This should enable the production of 2.8 million tonnes of chemical recyclate by 2030. By 2025, 1.2 million tonnes of chemical recyclate should already be produced.
The Nova Institute is much more cautious and is currently forecasting only 500 kt per year in Europe by 2027.
Nevertheless, Nova and Plastics Europe both agree that pyrolysis and depolymerisation are the winners due to the broad range of materials that can be used.
Demand for recyclate until 2030
Regardless of whether the projections and forecasts of Plastics Europe or the Nova Institute are correct, the amounts would be very important in order to cover at least part of the demand for PCR, which Plastics Europe estimates at around 6 million tonnes by 2030 based on the recyclate use rates in plastic packaging.
Conclusion from Plastic Recycler Europe
Ton Emans, President of Plastic Recycler Europe (PRE), summed up by saying,
- that the members pursue common goals: to improve plastics recycling in Europe and prevent many plastics from continuing to be incinerated and landfilled.
- Recyclers are currently struggling because virgin plastic is more expensive than recyclates and therefore has little chance on the market.
- To make matters worse, much of the plastic packaging used in the market today is non-recyclable. There is an urgent need to change this, if necessary by imposing higher taxes on plastics made from fossil-based raw materials.
- With a total of 200 members and more than 25 years of experience, the association is proud of what has already been achieved. However, collection, sorting and recycling must be driven forward in order to achieve the ambitious circular economy targets for 2030.
