Reshaping recycling: the complex quest for circular plastics [Promoted content]

Why is plastic recycling a complex and multifaceted issue? The diversity of plastic resins complicates the recycling process. Mechanical recycling is currently the predominant solution with high efficiency on clear PET bottles. It can potentially show, however, some limitations on other PET waste, for which alternative processes such as chemical recycling offer alternatives for companies transitioning towards greater sustainability practices. Chemical recycling is a set of processes that break down plastic waste into its basic chemical building blocks, including those that are difficult to recycle mechanically. By their complementarity, mechanical and chemical recycling technologies allow for a wider variety of plastics to be recycled. 

Michelle Norman is the Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at SUNTORY BEVERAGE & FOOD EUROPE

The plastic recycling challenge is one that Suntory Beverage and Food Europe is committed to address to fulfil our sustainability ambitions, tapping into the cooperative and entrepreneurial spirit which distinguish our goal of ‘Growing for Good’. In order to make this a reality, we value collaborations with strategic partners that encourage our innovative thinking for new packaging solutions. This is why we saw in our collaboration with French company Carbios the opportunity to mark a pivotal development: our joint unveiling of the world’s first Orangina prototype bottle made from enzymatically recycled plastic.

Carbios’ technology uses an enzyme capable of depolymerising PET, which is found in a variety of plastic and textile items. Carbios’ breakthrough technology enables unlimited recycling of all sorts of PET waste including material which is complex or unrecyclable, for example, coloured opaque plastics and polyester textiles as well as the production of 100% recycled and 100% recyclable PET goods that maintain their virgin quality throughout the process.

At present the lack of regulatory incentives exacerbates the challenge of recycling plastic. As we endeavour to close the loop on a circular economy, we are compelled to ask: can we generate secondary raw materials of such high-quality that allow same grade applications? And equally important, what challenges do industries see in these raw materials, and how can we overcome them to enable the rapid uptake of such materials into the industrial manufacturing processes?

Catalysing the shift: regulatory and economic levers.

To catalyse this transformation from the downstream angle, it is crucial to create a demand shock for plastic feedstock from chemical recycling. For that, SBFE and Carbios partnership within a wider consortium of like-minded businesses is representative of the power of collective efforts for a sustainable change. However, industry collaborations can only go so far when an enabling legislative framework is lacking, impairing other companies from making a shift to an economically feasible and attractive business model. There are two primary levers to stimulate this demand.

The first is regulatory: imposing obligations to reincorporate secondary raw materials into new products can support the market for such materials and incentivise companies to increase recycling capacities. The EU’s recent Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), expected to be enshrined into law this autumn, will provide strong incentives. It defines ‘high-quality recycling’ in EU law and mandates specific measures to increase recycled content for any plastic part of the product’s packaging. Lastly, it sets rules for recyclability ‘at scale,’ establishing performance grades based on design requirements. To ensure these provisions fully deliver on closing the loop, having well-functioning Deposit and Return System (or DRS) for the effective collection of plastic packaging will be essential.

The second lever is economic: making products with a reduced environmental footprint more cost-effective than traditional counterparts. This is no small feat, as economies of scale often favour virgin materials. Currently, recycled content feedstock for food contact materials such as PET bottles has limited availability, impacting the price. As the PPWR enters into force, it will be crucial that provisions ensuring priority and equitable access to high-quality recycled feedstock are implemented effectively in all Member States, tackling current competition with other sectors like textiles, which use PET bottles to produce recycled polyester, breaking the bottle loop. To tip the scales, we must incentivise the adoption of recycled materials by creating a stronger framework across the EU to support closed-loop systems made from recycled material and also recyclable, while avoiding downcycling. Our ability to do so will depend on the new European Commission’s timely progress on relevant PPWR secondary legislation, which remains key for the food and beverage sector’s ability to operate and comply with legal requirements.

Turning the tide: the essential role of having a legal framework.

The EU 2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) could play a crucial role in supporting chemical recycling as the EU legislator is currently discussing an implementing act to set rules on the calculation and reporting of recycled content in future products. This will also determine the approach for allocation method in relation to chemical recycling.

“For chemical recycling technology to continue flourishing, it must be rooted in a solid legal framework that differentiates between various forms of chemical recycling, leverages the circular virtues of the most performing methods such as depolymerisation, and ensures widespread adoption” says Bénédicte Garbil, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Carbios. With a commercial plant located in Longlaville (France), Carbios has the ambition to offer an industrial-scale solution for the enzymatic depolymerisation of PET waste to accelerate a circular economy for plastic and textile.

“Our work is progressing on schedule with significant quantities delivered to customers in 2026. Our asks for the forthcoming SUPD implementing act are firstly, acknowledge that mechanical and chemical recycling are complementary processes essential for recycling all PET packaging, increasing the overall PET recycling rate. Compare the environmental impact of different chemical recycling technologies (gasification, pyrolysis, depolymerisation, etc.) for each polymer type, rather than creating an artificial dichotomy between both categories. Secondly, we call on the European Commission for a timely publication of the secondary legislation. While this is critical to achieving the 2025 SUPD recycled PET targets, it will also provide investors with the necessary incentives and confidence to support and invest in innovative recycling technologies, driving the industry towards a more sustainable future. It is critical that regulations keep up with innovation.”

Ultimately, the path to effective plastic recycling is paved with both innovation and regulation. By fostering collaboration across industries and implementing robust legal frameworks, we can turn the tide towards a truly sustainable future while also enabling consumers to make more informed choices with greater confidence in the sustainability of the products they purchase.