Page 169 - CW E-Magazine (29-4-2025)

Special Report Special Report

all resulting in higher production costs creasingly moving into the focus of the the pioneers in circular economy – not recycling or energetically using 100% effective plastic management. The Ac- investment in the production of circu-
compared to new plastics. “But nobody EU. Especially disputed is the handling least due to clear political objectives of plastic waste by 2027. There are local tion Plan on Zero Plastic Waste aims to larity-ready plastics more attractive,
wants to pay higher costs,” stresses Ul- of PFAS since a ban could make recy- and early-adopted legislation. In Japan initiatives in Indonesia but there is no reduce plastic waste and establish a cir- reduce red tape caused by excessively
rich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the K cling considerably more diffi cult – be- the Container and Packaging Recycling comprehensive national strategy. One cular economy for plastics. It includes long approval procedures to name but
Advisory Board. “Plastics are so suc- cause plenty of waste plastics would Act has already obliged companies objective is to drastically reduce the measures for reducing single-use plas- one, and to return to a level-playing
cessful because they are so much better then be classifi ed as contaminated and since the 1990s to participate in return plastic waste that ends up in the sea tics and promoting reuse and recycling. fi eld with our international competi-
than other materials. But the transition eliminated from the circular economy. and recycling systems. This is supported by 2040. Despite the progress made in Beyond this, a gradual approach is pur- tors,” warns Virginia Janssens, Manag-
to the circular economy costs money. Wolfgang Große Entrup, Director by the Plastic Resource Circulation these countries the regional fragmenta- sued to reduce plastic waste by banning ing Director, Plastics Europe.
This cost issue will not be overcome General of VCI, therefore warns against a Act adopted in 2022, which promotes tion of waste management and the lack single-use plastic products and intro-
without regulatory requirements.” blanket ban: “With each individual sub- recyclate use and prescribes detailed of infrastructure continue to pose a ducing EPR. Market-based approaches promote
stance banned in the EU the risk grows recycling plans for plastic products. major challenge. Raising people’s aware- innovations but do not guarantee
However, the responses to the ques- that more of our industry players move ness and stronger industry involvement South America has a long way to go nation-wide implementation. Centrally
tion of how the transition to a function- to less regulated regions. This, however, South Korea pursues a systemic, will make or break the success of these In South America the circular controlled strategies produce
ing circular economy will work vary does not solve the original problem.” technology – driven approach via its new measures. economy is still in its infancy – some fast progress but run the risk of
from country to country. Act for Promotion of Transition to a 90% of waste ends up at landfi lls and becoming inefficient. One thing
Asia: between advances and structural Circular Economy Society (APTCES): North America: a patchwork of recycling is only of secondary impor- is clear: without higher recycling
Europe looks to regulation defi cits binding recycling rates, clear require- strategies tance. Chile, Colombia and Brazil have rates and more recyclates the circular
While other nations focus on volun- Accounting for 53% of global plas- ments for sustainable product design In North America circularity strate- national return and circularity schemes economy remains a patchwork.
tary commitments and market – oriented tics production Asia is the main player – as well as targeted regulation for hard- gies are heavily fragmented. The US such as Chile’s Ley REP, Colombia’s Those learning from each other can
solutions, Europe regulates by law. and the main source of plastic waste. to-recycle products. In addition, com- is pursuing an approach that comprises Basura Cero initiative or voluntary combine strengths and compensate
Strategies such as the Circular Economy While some countries pursue ambitious panies wanting to place new recycling both state initiatives and private busi- industry solutions in Brazil. Uruguay for weaknesses.
Action Plan (CEAP) and regulations recycling strategies, others lack the technologies on the market, are tem- ness measures. 33 US states have esta- banks on consistent waste management
such as the Packaging and Packaging basic infrastructure. porarily exempted from restrictions. blished EPR programmes, which with its Integrated Waste Management Shaping the circular economy at K 2025
Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Single- Unlike Europe, these two countries oblige manufacturers of single-use Act (Ley 19.829) and promotes pack- At K 2025 enterprises from the dif-
Use Packaging Directive (SUPD) drive China’s circularity offensive: centrally are banking on clear responsibilities, packaging to fi nancially participate in aging recycling. Despite various ad- ferent sectors of industry – raw mate-
the transition to circularity by means controlled, consistently implemented hands-on implementation and targeted waste management. By 2032, 100% vances and initiatives, however, infra- rial production, machine building and
of recycling rate, mandatory recyclate For a long time, China was the big- innovation funding rather than detailed of packaging is to be recyclable or com- structure remains insuffi cient in many processing – will fl ag up the major
content and Extended Producer Respon- gest importer of plastic waste, now the regulation. This approach is supported postable, and 65% of one-way packag- South American regions and success advances made so far as well as co-
sibility (EPR). The PPWR shows how country is recharting its course. By by high social acceptance and respon- ing be recycled. Other states, however, will depend on further state investment, herent future solutions for the circular
this works: since 2025 single-use PET adopting its National Sword Policy sibility assumed across the board when lag behind. international cooperation and stronger economy under the guiding theme
bottles have to contain a minimum of the country has stopped the imports of it comes to waste separation and saving awareness raising among the popula- “Shaping the Circular Economy”. The
25% recycled plastic and this percentage unsorted plastic waste and is now driving resources, for example. There is also another reason why tion. numerous K Specials will also pick
will go up 30% by 2030. For manufac- the expansion of own recycling struc- plastic recycling in the USA only has a up on the topic, fi rst and foremost the
turers such as Coca-Cola or Nestlé this tures. The 14th Five-year Plan focuses From India to Indonesia: why the low uptake compared to the rest of the Summary & Outlook VDMA Dome. The VDMA (German
means rebuilding their supply chains, on modern collection and sorting sys- circular economy is faltering world, despite modern recycling tech- The circular economy is both an Machinery and Equipment Manufac-
sourcing high-quality recyclates, adapt- tems and promotes both mechanical In India the Plastic Waste Manage- nologies: “There is neither a national obligation and opportunity alike for turers’ Association) will again host
ing production – otherwise they run the and chemical recycling. By 2035 the in- ment Rules (PWMR) oblige compa- nor a state-wide recycling programme the plastics industry. Europe pursues a an extensive Forum on the outdoor
risk of a sales ban. The SUPD is also dustry aims to be largely decarbonised nies to take back plastic waste. Despite that would cover at least a complete strictly regulatory approach; Asia com- premises in 2025, this time entitled
having an impact: in Lithuania the re- and have transited to closed material this important step insuffi cient infra- federal state. Instead, individual cities bines state regulations with technology “The Power of Plastics”. With 12 of its
turn rate of PET bottles shot up from cycles. This strategy is accompanied structure and the varying regional ap- and municipalities decide whether, how offensives; while in the Americas the member companies, it will demonstrate
34% to 92% after the introduction of a by the Circular Economy Promotion plications of the rules remain a major and which waste they collect and sort,” spectrum ranges from ambitious re- live on the premises between Halls 10 and
deposit system – in as little as two years. Law, which obliges companies to take challenge for a nation-wide implemen- explains the German federal economic quirements to a patchwork of isolated 16 just how important technology is for
Companies face major challenges in the back and safely dispose of specifi c tation. promotion agency, Germany Trade & measures or confi dence in the invisible implementing circularity in the plastics
process: the limited availability of high- products, and the establishment of the Invest (GTAI). Canada pursues a more hand of the market. But every circular industry. In the offi cial Special Plastics
quality recyclates, the technical com- state-owned China Resources Recy- Similar problems exist in Vietnam, comprehensive approach to promote economy model has its pitfalls: regula- Shape the Future in Hall 6, organised
plexity of changing over to a recycling- cling Group with the aim of centrally where an EPR law was introduced the circular economy. The government tion creates clear rules but can lead to by Plastics Europe Germany, the dis-
friendly design – not forgetting the short controlling the transformation. in 2022. It holds manufacturers and has introduced the Federal Plastics excessive bureaucracy and lack of in- cussion forum on Thursday, October 9,
deadlines set for complying with these importers accountable for seeing to Registry, a national registry for plastics to vestment – a risk that becomes increa- will come under the motto: “Circular
often-complex requirements. Japan and South Korea: driving tech- the recyclability of their products. In collect data about the production, use and singly perceivable in Europe. “To avoid Thursday: Transition – Resilience of
nology systematically Thailand the Plastic Waste Management disposal of plastics. It is designed to in- a slowing down of the transformation the industry – which technologies will
Chemical ingredients are also in- Japan and South Korea are among Roadmap 2030 pursues the aim of crease transparency and make for more we urgently need measures to make make the circular economy work?”

168 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 169

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