Chemical recycling is the process of breaking down waste materials into their original compounds and reusing them. It is an effective and sustainable way to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. With chemical recycling, valuable materials that have already been used can be recycled without causing any additional damage to the environment.
Unlike mechanical recycling, which may be limited by the degradation of material quality, chemical recycling is a viable solution for converting waste into usable resources and addressing the problems associated with increased waste generation. This paper provides an in-depth look at six different industries where chemical recycling has great potential, creating new opportunities for waste management and promoting sustainable practices.
1、Packaging
According to Statista, global use of plastics has increased significantly in recent years and is now estimated at 460 million tons. Packaging is the largest area of plastic consumption, accounting for about 31% of the total.
Chemical recycling has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by the packaging industry. This technology breaks down disposable packaging materials into valuable monomers and polymers. They can be used to produce new, high-quality packaging materials, reducing the need for virgin plastic production and minimizing plastic waste leakage into the environment.
In addition to food packaging, chemical recycling is gaining popularity in the beauty and personal care sector, as leading brands are incorporating recycled materials into their packaging. Cosmetics companies such as Kao, Shiseido and Amore Pacific, for example, are focusing on increasing the use of recycled plastics in their packaging and creating high-quality post-consumer recycled materials through chemical recycling technologies.
2. Automobile
Chemical recycling has brought benefits to the automotive industry, particularly in managing end-of-life automotive parts. Many automotive parts are made from materials that are difficult to recycle through traditional methods. These materials include precious metals, rubber and interior design materials such as plastics, foams, carpeting and upholstery. They can be chemically recycled to break down into their original chemical composition for use in the manufacture of new automotive materials.
Many automotive industry players have begun to embrace chemical recycling to reduce plastic waste. In 2022, Audi partnered with chemical company LyondellBasell to use its plastic in the seatbelt latch covers of the Audi Q8 e-tron. The plastic is made from a mixture of raw automotive plastic waste materials. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is working with BASF and startup Pyrum Innovations to increase the percentage of recycled materials in its vehicles to an average of 40 percent by 2030. The automaker is utilizing BASF's chemical recycling technology and combining it with pyrolysis oil generated by Pyrum Innovations from old tires.
Gr3n sagl (gr3n-recycling.com) is a company developing breakthrough technology that enables the chemical recycling of PET and polyester. In its chemical recycling process, the auxiliary chemicals required for the reaction and reprocessing steps are produced in-situ from the by-products, making it a closed-loop process that requires only water and energy. The company announced that it has partnered with Alcantara S.p.A . a materials company specializing in automotive interiors. They are working together to recycle "end-of-life" raw materials and production waste. And they will depolymerize to obtain virgin-like PET for new applications.
3. Construction
According to the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), the construction industry accounts for 40% of global waste production. Construction and demolition activities generate large amounts of waste, such as concrete, plastics and metals. Much of this waste can become recyclable construction materials. However, traditional methods are not always effective in dealing with complex construction and demolition materials.
Chemical recycling provides a more efficient way to generate recyclable building materials. By breaking down the waste into its original chemical composition, it can be reused to produce new building materials. The demand for recycled building materials such as wood, concrete and metal for construction applications is increasing.
Agilyx (agilyx.com) is a company that specializes in the chemical recycling of polystyrene, a common plastic used in building materials such as insulation foam board. The company has established a chemical recycling facility to recycle waste polystyrene in conjunction with and with the world's leading styrene supplier, INEOS Styrene Solutions.
4. Fashion
In the fashion industry, plastic waste is generated from a variety of sources throughout the supply chain. These wastes can come from raw material production, textile manufacturing, packaging, garment care and end-of-life disposal of garments and accessories. Chemical recycling is a great solution to this problem. It breaks down clothing into its original chemical composition, which can then be reused in production.
The fragrance and cosmetics division of luxury brand LVMH has partnered with the company to develop Eastman Cristal Renew copolyester packaging, according to Eastman Chemical. The packaging is made of 30% recycled content and will be used in the division's product line. The chemical recycling company said Christian Dior has already adopted the packaging and expects other brands in the LVMH group to join in. In addition, Eastman announced plans to build the world's largest chemical recycling facility in LVMH's home country, France, the world's fashion capital.
5. Electronic
Chemical recycling can be a transformative e-waste solution to better manage the complex mixture of materials in e-waste. The European Commission reports that in 2019, more than 53 million tons of e-waste were produced, and this is expected to increase to 74 million tons by 2030. In addition, about 8% of total gold production (about 250 tons) is used annually to produce new electronic devices. E-waste typically contains precious metals such as gold, silver, copper and rare earth elements, as well as hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and brominated flame retardants. Traditional e-waste solutions can be labor-intensive and can result in some material loss. On the other hand, e-waste can be efficiently processed through chemical recycling to extract valuable metals and safely recover hazardous materials.
Umicore (brs.umicore.com) is a global leader in e-waste solutions. The company offers a closed-loop approach to end-of-life electronics, particularly lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Its patented technology uses environmentally friendly methods to efficiently recover the purest battery-grade copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium. These precious metals can be converted into cathode materials for use in the manufacture of new rechargeable batteries.Umicore has partnered with Automotive Battery Corporation (ACC - a joint venture between ACC-Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies) to supply ACC with cathode materials for electric vehicles in Europe.
Other major industry companies specializing in metal recycling and e-waste solutions include Sims Limited, Aurubis AG, Boliden and TES-AMM. These companies, like others, have been leaders in utilizing advanced technologies to extract valuable resources and reduce their impact on the environment.
6. 3D printing
Many 3D printing materials are based on petroleum-based plastics, which can be challenging to recycle using traditional methods. Through chemical recycling, used 3D printed objects can be converted to their base components, enabling the production of recycled filaments and powders suitable for 3D printing.
The chemical company INEOS is producing polystyrene using chemical recycling techniques. The mass production of polystyrene could benefit 3D printing, where the material is commonly used.
Filmentive (filamentive.com) is a 3D printing filament manufacturer that uses recycled materials to produce filament. It utilizes as much post-consumer and pre-consumer (materials diverted from the waste stream during the consumption process) recycled materials as possible, carefully selected to ensure homogeneity and quality.
Chemical recycling is a transformative and sustainable solution to the global waste crisis. It has the potential to open up new opportunities for waste management and to promote environmentally responsible practices in different industries. The acceptance of chemical recycling represents a critical step towards reducing waste and conserving the Earth's natural resources, making it an integral part of the global journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.
