Transforming the plastics industry to sustainability is possible
Transforming the plastics industry to sustainability is possible
We cannot deny thatPlasticis everywhere around us, and our societies cannot do without it in any case. Plastic has many advantages and has very diverse uses, not to mention that it is a cheap material. Today, plastic is produced primarily from crude oil, and when products reach the end of their life they often end up in oceans, streets, or incinerators. The energy-intensive manufacture of plastics, as well as the burning of their waste, release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making plastic products a major contributor to climate change.
While plastics have a large carbon footprint throughout their life cycle, their manufacture emits up to 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to the risks to the marine and terrestrial environment as well as humans –Plasticalso makes a significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, for example, plastic produced 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions; Therefore, transitioning this industry to sustainability represents an important step towards achieving our climate goals.
One way to reduce the negative impact of the plastics industry is to rely on sustainable production techniques such asCircular Economy, where as much plastic as possible is recycled; Therefore, the main raw material for plastic products will not be oil, but plastic waste itself. But is it possible to make the plastics industry fully sustainable? The short answer to this question is: Yes.
More increased recycling
When we look at the complete value chains of the 14 most common types of plastics – including polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride – we find that these 14 plastics make up 90% of the plastics industry worldwide. But in order for us to be able to say that this industry can be completely transformed into sustainability, we must take into account many issues, such as the impacts on a number of resources, namely: land – water – ecosystems – biodiversity.
Many studies indicate that applying the circular economy to plastics is possible, but it would require recycling at least 74% of the plastic that is produced. To put things in perspective, about 15% of plastic is currently recycled in Europe, and this rate is likely to be much lower in other regions of the world.
The recycling process – also – must undergo many improvements; In order to be more effective, to be able to treat the vast majority of plastic waste. For example, polyurethane (a type of plastic, used in thermal insulation and in the manufacture of furniture and upholstery, and other uses) we find that – until now – there is no clear basis for recycling it.
As for the remaining 26% of the plastic that will be produced, the carbon necessary for its manufacture can be obtained using two other technologies, the first: capturing carbon dioxide resulting from various combustion processes, or through the atmosphere. The other: obtaining carbon from biomass; Therefore, we can say: recycling will not be the only technology on our way towards transforming the plastics industry into complete sustainability.
There is no doubt that increasing the plastic recycling rate to 74% worldwide is a very ambitious goal, and as such, it is unlikely that this goal will be achieved by 2030, and may become a more realistic goal in 2050. Despite this, another challenge that we currently face is increasing the manufacture of plastic products year after year, and if the current trend continues until 2050, recycling operations will not be Enough.
A more comprehensive understanding of product control in the plastics industry
Many scientists suggest that plastic products should be better aligned with the circular economy in the future. To this end, manufacturers must work closely with recyclers; Therefore, it will be important for plastic manufacturers to become more aware of the responsibility they bear, something that is absent in our reality today, where the responsibility of plastics manufacturers ends once the product leaves the gates of their factories. Hence, supervision and control processes must include the entire life cycle, including disposal and recycling, as they are the basis for improving the design of sustainable operations.
In any case, supporting the increase in plastic recycling is the right path for this industry to take; Since there are no problematic problems related to recycling, it represents a promising solution to completely transform the plastics industry towards sustainability.
The expected long-term results of increasing reliance on plastic recycling instead of producing virgin plastic include reducing the carbon footprint produced by the plastics industry, in addition to significantly reducing dependence on fossil fuels, which are two things that have a major contribution to many of the climate problems that our planet is currently suffering from.
We do not deny that plastic plays an essential role in our lives today, but we bear all responsibility for the catastrophic environmental damage resulting from it, which is represented by the manufacturing of its products and the irresponsible disposal of its waste. Therefore, this industry has the most important role in truly adopting a circular economy and designing smarter products that meet the development requirements of our present and preserve our environment for future generations.
In conclusion, we cannot deny our fear of the sharp escalation in the virgin plastic industry, and the consequent consumption of huge amounts of resources and energy, and consequently the generation of huge quantities of plastic waste – annually – from which all the ecosystems on our planet are depleted.
