Cycle for strapping bands
Disposal company Re-strap and Teufelberger have concluded a long-term agreement for the return of used plastic strapping.
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At the end of 2021, more than 90 projects for the chemical recycling of plastics were in various stages of planning worldwide; more than 20 plants were in operation. This is the result of a trend study by the consulting firm Ecoprog.
Ecoprog has analysed the global market for chemical recycling against the background that few issues in waste management are currently as polarising as chemical recycling. For those in favour, chemical recycling offers an opportunity, to fully recycle plastic in the future without downcycling. In addition, contaminated and mixed waste streams that cannot currently be recycled should also be able to be recycled through chemical recycling.
Critics criticise above all the high CO2 emissions from chemical recycling. They fear that waste streams will be diverted from more climate-favourable material recycling in order to treat them in this way.
Currently Around 20 chemical recycling plants in operation worldwide. Most of these plants cannot be regarded as final commercial plants, but are primarily used for further research into this technology. At the same time the planning of chemical recycling plants is booming. More than 90 projects were planned worldwide at the end of 2021, the majority of them in Europe.
Possible key technology in plastics production
The most important driver of the current dynamic market development is the Potential of chemical recycling in plastics production, combined with possible recyclate quotas. On the positive side, there is speculation that chemical recycling will be recognised in the waste hierarchy, as is the case in the coalition agreement of the new coalition government in Germany.
The main arguments against chemical recycling are the high energy consumption and the unresolved technical issues. This applies in particular to cleaning the output from depolymerisation, such as pyrolysis oil, from contaminants and additives. The discussion about the political categorisation of chemical recycling also threatens its implementation.
Nevertheless, chemical recycling a potential key technology in the future production of plastics, which could account for large market shares in the coming years. It therefore primarily affects the business model of the chemical industry and the mineral oil industry, which produce plastics or provide the raw material obtained from crude oil.
Accordingly, the companies that are currently particularly active in chemical recycling also come from these sectors. In addition, there are above all Waste companies that provide the corresponding material streams, as well as start-ups whose founding idea relates to the technical testing of the process.
The Chemical recycling trend study by Ecoprog analyses the technical fundamentals, market factors, development status, plant inventory, projects and competition in the field of chemical recycling worldwide.
Source: Ecoprog
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