On the brink of a recycling revolution?

Carey, John H.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1620655114

Cited by 38 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…-Collection infrastructure for recyclables is established, and end-of-life FMCGs are retrieved for recycling, although kerbside infrastructure is insufficient to allow for collection of all types of recyclable materials. -Material recovery technologies are established; however, their capacity to process some material types (e.g., black plastics identification and contaminated loads) is limited [54,56]. Ultimately as much as 80% of materials from post-consumer FMCGs are diverted to landfill and incineration [3].…”

Section: Environmental Value Proposition Of Reuse Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products

et al. 2021

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Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) are products that are purchased and consumed frequently to satisfy continuous consumer demand. In a linear economy, FMCGs are typically offered as single-use and disposable products. Limitations in product design, insufficient collection systems, and inefficient recovery processes prevent high recycling rates. As a result, FMCGs often end up in landfill or the environment, contributing to waste accumulation, and pollution. Whilst recycling is the most common waste prevention strategy practiced by the industry, the process is limited to addressing only the final stage of the product life cycle, omitting the overproduction and consumption of materials typical of FMCGs. Instead, reuse is a strategy that is capable of extending the value of resources by slowing material flows. Novel reuse models that require the consumer to interact with durable primary packaging and products are emerging in the FMCG industry. However, the constituent elements and operation principles of such reuse models are not fully understood. The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive characterisation of reuse models and to evaluate their potential to deliver environmental value. Method: Ninety-two reuse offerings were selected and analysed to identify their reuse system elements. The analysis led to the identification of a framework including five reuse models, which were also evaluated to establish their capability to deliver environmental value when compared to conventional single-use and disposable FMCGs. Results: Currently in the FMCG sector, reusable products are mostly durable packaging, such as bottles and containers for beverages, foods, personal and home care goods, and are infrequently durable products, such as personal and baby care goods, including razors and nappies. Three reuse models involve exclusive reuse, a behaviour by which a reusable product is used and kept by a single user throughout the product lifetime. In exclusive reuse models, users are provided with either a reusable product (model 1), a reusable product with preparation for reuse infrastructure (model 2), or access to preparation for reuse infrastructure (model 3). Two reuse models involve sequential reuse, a behaviour by which a reusable product is used by multiple users throughout the product lifetime and returned after each use to a provider. In sequential reuse models, users are provided with either a reusable product with preparation for reuse infrastructure and provider-operated recovery services (model 4), or a reusable product and provider-operated services for recovery and preparation for reuse (model 5). Whilst the five reuse models can operate standalone, some offerings were found to embed a multi-model approach. Both exclusive and sequential reuse models are capable of delivering environmental value by reducing the use of natural resources and retaining their value in the economy. In particular, sequential reuse models were found to have a greater capability to increase the share of recyclable resources by offering access to infrastructure for the closure of material loops. Conclusions: Consumers can currently access five reuse models and choose between exclusive and sequential reuse behaviours. When adopted in conjunction with recycling, reuse models can enable a more efficient consumption of FMCGs. Providing the infrastructure necessary to enable reuse and recycling is key to the successful and sustainable deployment of the reuse models.

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Section: Environmental Value Proposition Of Reuse Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products

et al. 2021

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“…This is most conveniently achieved through chemolytic processes because of the higher selectivity and lower energy inputs compared to thermochemical approaches [ 71 ]. This is a “hot” research topic, mainly due to the few industrial applications developed in the field so far, despite the urgent need for innovative technologies that overcome the high costs of recycling, the legal constraints for dumping, the accumulation of plastic scraps and the dependence on nonrenewable (fossil) sources [ 72 – 73 ]. A reason for this underdevelopment is that chemolysis of plastics is still challenging due to multiple critical factors: i) the achievement of selective depolymerisation is only possible by carefully controlled reaction conditions, ii) the related processes must be “green” and economically viable and, iii) tailored solutions are required to overcome the chemical inertness for, and the thermodynamic limitations of the reversal of each polymer.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Valorisation of plastic waste via metal-catalysed depolymerisation

Liguori

Moreno‐Marrodán

Barbaro

2021

Beilstein J. Org. Chem.

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Metal-catalysed depolymerisation of plastics to reusable building blocks, including monomers, oligomers or added-value chemicals, is an attractive tool for the recycling and valorisation of these materials. The present manuscript shortly reviews the most significant contributions that appeared in the field within the period January 2010–January 2020 describing selective depolymerisation methods of plastics. Achievements are broken down according to the plastic material, namely polyolefins, polyesters, polycarbonates and polyamides. The focus is on recent advancements targeting sustainable and environmentally friendly processes. Biocatalytic or unselective processes, acid–base treatments as well as the production of fuels are not discussed, nor are the methods for the further upgrade of the depolymerisation products.

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“…Social, economic, and regulatory dimensions can act as barriers that form a vicious network. For example, the potential for plastic recycling is hindered by volatility of oil prices, unfavorable public perception of recycled plastic quality, and poor waste management practices in developing countries (Carey 2017 ). The decision of companies to invest in practices to promote the sustainable consumption of plastics requires anticipation of the response of their customers (Chiu et al 2020 ).…”

Section: General Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling vicious networks with P-graph causality maps

Tan

Aviso

Lao

et al. 2021

Clean Techn Environ Policy

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Graphical abstract P-graph causality maps were recently proposed as a methodology for systematic analysis of intertwined causal chains forming network-like structures. This approach uses the bipartite representation of P-graph to distinguish system components (“objects” represented by O-type nodes) from the functions they perform (“mechanisms” represented by M-type nodes). The P-graph causality map methodology was originally applied for determining structurally feasible causal networks to enable a desirable outcome to be achieved. In this work, the P-graph causality map methodology is extended to the analysis of vicious networks (i.e., causal networks with adverse outcomes). The maximal structure generation algorithm is first used to assemble the problem elements into a complete causal network; the solution structure generation algorithm is then used to enumerate all structurally feasible causal networks. Such comprehensive analysis gives insights on how to deactivate vicious networks through the removal of keystone objects and mechanisms. The extended methodology is illustrated with an ex post analysis of the 1984 Bhopal industrial disaster. Prospects for other applications to sustainability issues are also discussed.

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On the brink of a recycling revolution?

Cited by 38 publications

References 5 publications

Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products

Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products

Valorisation of plastic waste via metal-catalysed depolymerisation

Modelling vicious networks with P-graph causality maps

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