A new Fraunhofer CCPE position paper on the state of the art of science and technology for plastics recycling technologies focusses on chemical recycling processes. A market analysis also shows current industry activities.
The position paper of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE provides an overview of material and feedstock (chemical) processing technologies for plastics that are currently under development and are not yet state of the art. In particular, so-called chemical recycling processes are categorised. The technical development status of the processes, their advantages and disadvantages, the regulatory and legal framework, economic feasibility and potential for environmental and climate protection will be analysed.
A market overview also shows, which projects on the part of the industry The following information is available on the current status of chemical recycling processes, which waste materials are being treated and what plant capacity is available or planned.
„The demand for high-quality plastic recyclates is increasing. This is due to the voluntary commitments of manufacturers on the one hand and the European Union's requirements for the use of recyclates on the other. With recyclate utilisation quotas and rising CO2-prices, the competitiveness of recyclates is strengthened compared to primary products and dependence on the price of crude oil is eliminated. This creates investment security for recycling. We believe that new recycling technologies are technically capable of meeting the additional demand for high-quality recyclates. There is still a need for development, especially for complex waste such as composite materials. An overall ecological assessment of the processes is also still pending.“ Prof Matthias Franke, Head of the Sulzbach-Rosenberg branch of Fraunhofer prudence
Based on the current state of development, the Fraunhofer researchers estimate that The potential of alternative recycling technologies is positive overall if they are used as a supplement to established material processes. They are technically feasible and manageable and could help to improve the recycling of plastics and provide high-quality secondary raw materials for industry. Above all, the raw material/chemical processes could be a complementary building block for higher-quality plastics recycling, especially for waste streams that were previously difficult to treat.
Position paper focussing on new recycling processes
According to Fraunhofer CCPE, mechanical processes are the best choice for unmixed plastic fractions (thermoplastics). With increasing heterogeneity, soiling or contamination of plastic waste material recycling reaches its limits. Fillers, impurities and contaminants often cannot be completely removed in sorting, washing and extrusion systems. Certain types of plastic are almost impossible to recycle.
In order to increase the recycling of plastics, it is necessary to supplement the material processes with alternative processes and process combinations. As chemical recycling processes are also capable of providing secondary raw materials for plastics production, the The material recycling rate for packaging plastics has been replaced by a recycling rate that is open to all technologies become more important. This would promote technical innovations in the volume-dominated recycling of packaging.
An overall ecological assessment of recycling processes or process combinations for specific used plastics has yet to be carried out. Partial substitution of petroleum-based base chemicals with chemical recyclates, e.g. based on plastic waste appears technologically possible.
„The industry is showing more and more interest in new recycling processes. This is confirmed by our market analysis. However, there are only a few large commercial projects to date. There is therefore a lack of empirical data on the long-term operation of plants, reliable data on mass and energy balances and economic efficiency.“ Dr Alexander Hofmann, Head of the Advanced Recycling Research Department at Fraunhofer CCPE
Furthermore, industry projects for chemical recycling have so far focussed on relatively pure waste materials. Mixed plastic waste or composite materials have rarely been considered as input materials to date, even though considerable raw material potential here is available. There is still a need for technical development before high-quality recyclates can be produced from these material flows on an industrial scale. The Fraunhofer CCPE presents the Position paper also presents a research agenda.
[infotext icon]The transition from a linear to a circular economy in plastics production can only succeed if the players involved work together. The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE pools the expertise of six Fraunhofer Institutes and relies on close cooperation with partners from industry. Taking into account the entire life cycle of plastic products, we work together on systemic, technical and social innovations.Source: Fraunhofer prudence
