How much can chemical recycling contribute to plastic waste recycling in Europe? An assessment using material flow analysis modeling

Plastic recycling rate in Europe is low, urging for developments in recycling technologies and strategies. Mechanical recycling (MR) has been the reference recycling technology for years, but in the near future chemical recycling (CR) options will contribute to improve plastic circularity. This study uses material flow analysis (MFA) at European level to provide quantitative estimates of the contribution of CR technologies to plastic recycling. Ten most used polymer types from five sectors are selected. In the most optimistic scenario the end-of-life recycling rates in 2030 is 80% (sum of plastic-to-plastic and plastic-to-chemical, excluding plastic-to-fuel), in which 46% plastic-to-plastic from MR, 15% plastic-to-plastic from CR and 19% plastic-to-chemicals. Thus, the highest achievable plastic-to-plastic rate is estimated to be 61%. The plastic-to-fuel rate from CR is estimated to be 3–6%. The MFA results are used to estimate potential recycled content availability in 2030, suggesting that CR implementation, closed-loop recycling and processing the ‘missing plastics’ will be necessary to achieve the targets.

SAPUTRA LASE Irdanto;  TONINI Davide;  CARO Dario;  ALBIZZATI Paola Federica;  CRISTOBAL GARCIA Jorge;  ROOSEN Martijn;  KUSENBERG Marvin;  RAGAERT Kim;  VAN GEEM Kevim M.;  DEWULF Jo;  DE MEESTER Steven; 

2023-12-21

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC132460

0921-3449 (online),   

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106916,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC132460,   

10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106916 (online),