Closing the loop on plastic packaging materials: What is quality and how does it affect their circularity?

Abstract

While attention on the importance of closing materials loops for achieving circular economy (CE) is raging, the technicalities of doing so are often neglected or difficult to overcome. These technicalities determine the ability of materials, components and products (MCPs) to be properly recovered and redistributed for reuse, recycling or recovery, given their remaining functionality, described here as the remaining properties and characteristics of MCPs. The different properties of MCPs make them useful for various functions and purposes. A transition, therefore, towards a CE would require the utmost exploitation of the remaining functionality of MCPs; ideally, enabling recirculation of them back in the economy. At present, this is difficult to succeed. This short communication article explains how the remaining functionality of MCPs, defined here as quality, is perceived at different stages of the supply chain, focusing specifically on plastic packaging, and how this affects their potential recycling. It then outlines the opportunities and constraints posed by some of the interventions that are currently introduced into the plastic packaging system, aimed at improving plastic materials circularity. Finally, the article underpins the need for research that integrates systemic thinking, with technological innovations and policy reforms at all stages of the supply chain, to promote sustainable practices become established.

Thermo-Mechanical Behavior and Hydrolytic Degradation of Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Blends

“…To reduce the consumption of renewable resources used for the synthesis of biopolymers is important to be able to recycle them. In this way, biopolymers waste may become a valuable alternative feedstock for monomers and intermediates (Hahladakis and Iacovidou, 2018).…”

Removing plastic packaging from fresh produce – what’s the impact?

“…In addition, there are a number of factors that can influence whether a piece of plastic packaging is ultimately recycled after being placed in a recycling bin, such as if there is any contamination, for example with large amounts of food; liquid residue ( e.g. oils); printing inks and labels; other plastics (multi‐material packaging is common); and the cost and ease of recycling the particular type of plastic in question (Hahladakis & Iacovidou ; Iacovidou et al ; Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology ; WRAP ). In addition, the technologies used at the material recovery facilities, as well as reprocessing methods, can also impact on plastic packaging recyclability (Hahladakis & Iacovidou ).…”

Assessment of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) content in plastic waste recovered from WEEE

“…The EU Directive (2012/19/EU) states that plastics containing BFRs should be sorted and managed separately from the non-brominated fraction (European Commission, 2012). This will help mitigate any perpetuate dispersion of contaminants in the recyclates (Hahladakis et al, 2018a;Samsonek et al, 2015;Hahladakis and Iacovidou, 2018). Furthermore, BFRs have been detected in recycled plastic samples indicating that techniques are not properly designed, either for sorting or removing various SoC and additives incorporated in plastic matrices (Hahladakis et al, 2018a, b).…”