To reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of single-use plastics, the U.S. Department of Energy DOE recently announced $13.4 million in funding for next-generation plastics technologies. Seven R&D projects led by industry and universities were supported by the funding.
The seven projects will work to develop affordable "upcycling" solutions, convert waste plastic film into more valuable materials, and design new plastics that are easily recyclable and biodegradable.
The plastics production process is highly energy intensive, and according to statistics, plastics production accounts for more than 3% of total energy consumption in the United States. Nevertheless, many of these materials end up in landfills or in the environment, especially single-use plastics such as plastic bags, wraps and films. Currently, less than 10% of plastics are recycled, and most are "downcycled" and used in low-value products.
This investment benefits the Department of Energy's response to the plastic waste recycling challenge and supports the Biden Administration's efforts to build a clean energy economy to ensure the United States achieves net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The seven projects receiving government funding are as follows: Braskem (Pittsburgh, PA) will develop recycled and recyclable monomeric polymeric chemical bio-based multilayer films. ($2 million) Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Ames, Iowa) will develop a closed-loop recycling technology capable of upgrading single-use plastic films to biodegradable materials. ($2.5 million) Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan) will redesign existing recyclable plastics. ($1,705,811) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (Greensboro, NC) catalytically deconstructs plasma-treated single-use plastics into value-added chemicals and novel materials. ($2,499,994) TDA Research Center (White Ledge, Colo.) will develop recyclable and biodegradable films for improved food packaging. ($1,609,056) University of Massachusetts Lowell (Lowell, MA) will integrate layering and carbonation processes for up-cycling of disposable multilayer plastic films. ($1,600,276) West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV) will develop a process for modular upcycling of microwave-catalyzed reinforced plastic films into monoliths. ($1,500,001)
"The production of single-use plastics produces large amounts of hard-to-recycle carbon emissions that pollute beaches, parks and communities," said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. "By improving technologies to recycle and biodegrade single-use plastics, the triple goal of reducing plastic waste, lowering emissions from the plastics industry, and providing clean jobs for American workers can be achieved simultaneously."
