{"id":6344,"date":"2022-01-28T21:38:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T19:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/the-challenges-of-plastic\/"},"modified":"2022-02-01T13:18:34","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T11:18:34","slug":"task-a-new-positioning-of-plastic-from-waste-to-raw-materials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/csr-at-retal\/facts-on-pet\/task-a-new-positioning-of-plastic-from-waste-to-raw-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"THE CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Plastics have been a part of our lives for years, but they pose numerous challenges to producers, consumers and society as a whole. These are challenges we must address today,<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>to come up with solutions before it is too late.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Challenge: repositioning the image of plastic from \u201cwaste\u201d to a \u201craw material\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marine litter is rightly pushing plastic up the agenda for governments, packaging producers, brand owners and individuals. <\/span><\/span>Plastic<\/span><\/span> containers<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>a big part <\/span><\/span>of<\/span><\/span> this <\/span><\/span>problem, <\/span><\/span>but the <\/span><\/span>issue<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>is <\/span><\/span>also <\/span><\/span>more wide-ranging. <\/span><\/span>More than half of the plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch come from nets, ropes and lines<\/span><\/span> used by the fishing industry [1<\/a>].<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>And m<\/span><\/span>ost \u2013 70 per cent \u2013 of marine litter<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>which also includes<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>glass, metal and <\/span><\/span>other <\/span><\/span>marine waste, sinks to the ocean floor [2<\/a>].<\/span><\/span> B<\/span><\/span>ut <\/span><\/span>because <\/span><\/span>plastic bottles <\/span><\/span>float, they <\/span><\/span>are the most visible<\/span><\/span> and symbolic <\/span><\/span>example<\/span><\/span> of the issue<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The heart of the problem is not simply plastic itself, <\/span>however, <\/span>but how we manage plastic<\/span> beyond its first use<\/span>. The vast majority of applications use polymer packaging <\/span>only <\/span>once, and as soon as it fulfils its function, <\/span>it is <\/span>automatically <\/span>classified <\/span>as waste. <\/span>But i<\/span>n fact, PET packaging <\/span>is still a usable <\/span>raw material <\/span>\u2013<\/span> it can be recycled <\/span>many times.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s New Plastics Economy report highlights how <\/span>\u201c<\/span>the shift towards a circular economy in which plastics never become waste, while creating economic opportunities, seems to be an effective strategy for tackling the problem of marine litter. This transition will require coordinated actions from policy makers, waste managers, the private sector and financial actors.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the same report, 95 per cent of plastic packaging material <\/span><\/span>\u2013 worth between $80 to $120 billion \u2013 <\/span><\/span>is lost to the economy each year after <\/span><\/span>being used just once<\/span><\/span> [3<\/a>]<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>Recyclable p<\/span><\/span>lastic is a valuable resource, and it\u2019s crucial we don\u2019t waste it.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>Manufacturers across the supply chain <\/span><\/span>need to understand <\/span><\/span>the impact of their <\/span><\/span>products<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>un<\/span><\/span>derstand <\/span><\/span>that <\/span><\/span>shifting to<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>this <\/span><\/span>mindset <\/span><\/span>\u2013 where no plastic waste is justified \u2013 is critically important<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>It is important to understand <\/span><\/span>too <\/span><\/span>that we are all participants <\/span><\/span>in <\/span><\/span>the value chain and product life<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>cycle. Each of us, from the producer of raw materials to the consumer, has <\/span><\/span>a responsibility <\/span><\/span>and a part to play<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>how <\/span><\/span>such <\/span><\/span>product<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>are <\/span><\/span>disposed of at the end of <\/span><\/span>their <\/span><\/span>life<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>cycle.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge: developed countries need to take responsibility for the disposal of exported plastic waste <\/strong><\/p>\n

The export of <\/span>plastic waste to southeast Asia <\/span>by dev<\/span>e<\/span>l<\/span>o<\/span>ped countries has <\/span>contributed hugely <\/span>to the current <\/span>levels <\/span>of <\/span>marine <\/span>pollution. <\/span>I<\/span>n 2016, about <\/span>three<\/span> <\/span>million tons of waste was exported from Europe, more than 50<\/span> per cent<\/span> of which ended up in China. Southeast Asia<\/span>n countries lack the <\/span>necessary infrastructure <\/span>to correctly process <\/span>plastic waste<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>which <\/span>leads <\/span>to <\/span>waste <\/span>ending <\/span>up<\/span> in rivers,<\/span> <\/span>where it flows to <\/span>the coast<\/span>, and from there, <\/span>the ocean. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

States with developed economies <\/span>must <\/span>take responsibility<\/span>,<\/span> by financing activities to clean the environment <\/span>of <\/span>discarded plastic.<\/span> M<\/span>ost developing countries, such as China, Vietnam and Malaysia, have <\/span>now <\/span>banned the import of plastic waste<\/span>, and i<\/span>t seems highly probable that this ban will <\/span>lead to <\/span>the development of a circular economy. However, Europe still lacks the infrastructure for collecting and sorting plastic, as well as the capacity for recycling plastic waste.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge: building an infrastructure to collect and sort polymer packaging<\/strong><\/p>\n

The EU Directive on Single Use Plastics <\/span>stipulates <\/span>that 90<\/span> per cent<\/span> of all PET beverage bottles <\/span>used must <\/span>be collected <\/span>for recycling <\/span>by 2029. <\/span>However, <\/span>according to <\/span>Wood Mackenzie<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>an e<\/span>nergy research consultancy<\/span>, <\/span>this <\/span>is a <\/span>challenging <\/span>target <\/span>indeed<\/span> for countries without the appropriate infrastructure<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2017 t<\/span>he <\/span>average <\/span>collection rate in Europe <\/span>was <\/span>58<\/span> p<\/span>er cent<\/span>. Germany and Norway have already <\/span>achieved <\/span>the 90<\/span> per cent<\/span> collection rate target, while Bulgaria and Greece collection rates stood at 17<\/span> per cent<\/span> and 29<\/span> per cent<\/span> respectively in 2017. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that<\/span>,<\/span> to reach the 2029 target<\/span>,<\/span> EU member states would need to collect twice as many PET beverage bottles, by weight, <\/span>than<\/span> <\/span>they did <\/span>in 2017. <\/span>But these targets <\/span>will <\/span>only be reached <\/span>with the <\/span>development <\/span>of a systematic approach to the collection and sorting of plastic packaging and related infrastructure <\/span>[4<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Challenge: the creation of additional recycling facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

The EU Directive on Single Use Plastics also sets requirements for the percentage of <\/span>recycled PET \u2013 or <\/span>rPET<\/span> <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>in all PET bottles<\/span> \u2013 to <\/span>25<\/span> per cent<\/span> by 2025<\/span>, then <\/span>30<\/span> per cent<\/span> by 2030. According to Wood Mackenzie’s forecasts, these plans <\/span>would require <\/span>70 <\/span>new <\/span>production sites in Europe<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>each <\/span>with an average annual capacity of 30<\/span>,000 <\/span>tons. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If this were not challenging enough<\/span>, <\/span>only by establishing <\/span>the proper infrastructure for the collection and sorting of used polymer packaging<\/span> \u2013 <\/span>the raw material for recycling plants<\/span> \u2013 in the first place,<\/span> <\/span>will it <\/span>be possible to attract sufficient investment <\/span>to construct <\/span>the<\/span>se <\/span>sites. <\/span>We need <\/span>strong, established waste collection system<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>if we want <\/span>to spark <\/span>investment in new plastic processing facilities.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge: increasing PET packaging recyclability by decreasing additives and colourants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colourants and additives used in <\/span>the <\/span>production of PET packaging <\/span>usually hinders their recyclability<\/span>. <\/span>Black <\/span>PET<\/span> <\/span>packaging<\/span>, and other dark colours, in <\/span>particular<\/span> <\/span>can be <\/span>difficult to recycle,<\/span> <\/span>as <\/span>most <\/span>automatic sorting machines<\/span> <\/span>do not identify it as plastic <\/span>at all.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Also, <\/span>the original <\/span>colour<\/span> of the bottle <\/span>will <\/span>affect the colo<\/span>u<\/span>r of <\/span>any <\/span>rPET<\/span> produced from it<\/span>, <\/span>making it unattractive as a form of packaging.<\/span> <\/span>Some additives <\/span>also <\/span>degrade during the recycling process<\/span>,<\/span> rendering the resulting r-PET unsuitable for food applications<\/span>. <\/span>But once <\/span>these <\/span>hurdle<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>are <\/span>overcome, black PET will become a useful resource<\/span>,<\/span> as it can be used <\/span>to mix a wide range of <\/span>rPET<\/span> colours.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

S<\/span>olving <\/span>problems like these means <\/span>we will be able to <\/span>increase <\/span>both <\/span>the collection of recycled plastic <\/span>and <\/span>the quality and attractiveness of <\/span>rPET<\/span> packaging for consumers.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge: increase consumer awareness of the final stage of the polymer packaging life-cycle and introduce a culture of conscious consumption<\/strong><\/p>\n

The increase in the pace of modern life in recent decades has run parallel to an increase in consumption. <\/span>Society needs more and more containers for the goods it produces<\/span> and consumes<\/span>, which means it creates more and more waste.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

E<\/span>nvironmental pollution is global, and it concerns everyone. Since we all negatively affect the environment, we must <\/span>all <\/span>share responsibility. Ecological problems <\/span>must be tackled<\/span> by <\/span>both <\/span>business<\/span>es and governments<\/span>,<\/span> but <\/span>consumers should also play their part<\/span>, <\/span>and <\/span>by <\/span>increasing<\/span> <\/span>public awareness of <\/span>conscious consumption and proper disposal of waste<\/span> <\/span>we can start the ball rolling<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Measures to solve <\/span>the problems associated with the use and disposal of plastic, and joint efforts <\/span>by <\/span>state<\/span>s, <\/span>governments, companies and consumers, will ultimately help <\/span>us <\/span>tackle <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> global environmental <\/span>crisis<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-018-22939-w<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. https:\/\/www.marinelittersolutions.com\/about-marine-litter\/what-is-marine-litter\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. https:\/\/www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org\/assets\/downloads\/Foundation_New-Plastics-Economy_7.jpg<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. https:\/\/www.woodmac.com\/reports\/chemical-markets-the-eus-single-use-plastic-directive-turning-the-tide-on-plastic-waste-213718<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    THE CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC Plastics have been a part of our lives for years, but they pose numerous challenges to producers, consumers and society as a whole. These are challenges we must address today, to come up with solutions before it is too late. Challenge: repositioning the image of plastic from \u201cwaste\u201d to a \u201craw […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6364,"menu_order":47,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/single-pet-fact.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6344","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6344"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7248,"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6344\/revisions\/7248"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.retalgroup.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}