When Styrenics Circular Solutions made its K debut in 2019, there was a refreshing air of enthusiasm and positivity as the value chain assembled. Our emphasis then was very much on the fact that polystyrene is excellently sortable and efficiently recyclable, with an intrinsic capacity for full circularity, including for food contact applications. In 2019, we already understood that our polymer could make a significant contribution to the circular economy and we already had a portfolio of three recycling technologies: mechanical recycling, dissolution and depolymerisation. So, where do we stand at K2022?
Most importantly, we have progressed in these last three years from knowing what our polymer is capable of to turning that capability into a reality. The excellent results of our challenge tests using two different super-cleaning technologies have underlined our confidence in the safety of recycled polystyrene as food contact material. We have two solid scientific dossiers in place that will be instrumental for obtaining EU authorisation for the use of mechanically recycled polystyrene in food contact applications. Thanks to those results, investors in food grade mechanical recycling facilities have a choice of technologies.
Recently, a scientific study by Fraunhofer confirmed that polystyrene can serve as a safe functional barrier for food contact applications. The study highlighted once more the low diffusion properties of polystyrene, which similar to PET, enable the use of mechanically recycled polystyrene in the middle layer of a so-called A-B-A structure behind the virgin functional barrier. With this, our value chain has a second safe solution for incorporating recycled content in any rigid polystyrene food packaging and foamed polystyrene food trays. Moreover, such packaging can be placed on the market right away.
Our converter members have confirmed that recycled polystyrene is a drop-in solution in their existing facilities, behaving exactly like virgin material in production and that it retains all of the excellent qualities of polystyrene, with the crucial added credential of full circularity. This confirmation from converters has been another significant step in showing that circular polystyrene is already a reality and ready for industrial scale-up.
A comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for polystyrene produced excellent results for the three recycling processes of high purity mechanical recycling, dissolution and depolymerisation compared to the end-of-life option incineration and the production of the virgin material. The results showed a significant improvement of the CO2 footprint with all three technologies delivering food grade recyclate. Further upside potential was identified with the projected scale-up of production in an industry setting. This again was an important boost for the value chain, giving us all confidence in the environmental benefits of recycled polystyrene underlining the important place that polystyrene has in the circular economy, not only with its closed loop food contact recyclability, but also with its contribution to climate neutrality.
There is no question that the value chain’s progress has been significant since our K 2019 debut. But as always, our eye is on the future and the role that our polymer will play in the circular economy. How do we go the extra mile to reclaim the maximum of our molecules? Design for Recycling guidelines will assist us by further boosting sorting efficiency and feedstock quantity and quality for high purity recycling. The result of this will be more recycled material available in terms of both quality and quantity, further enhancing our contribution to European recycling targets.
Another cause for optimism in the years ahead is that brand owners such as Yoplait are embracing circular polystyrene as the best solution for their dairy applications. Their belief in the unique benefits of polystyrene means they are engaging deeply in the drive to turn polystyrene’s circular capacity into reality by accelerating and scaling up market applications with recycled polystyrene content. Their committed engagement is both welcomed and decisive in helping the value chain reach its scale-up ambitions. Of course, as brand owners join our alliance, we hope that retailers will not be far behind them, also putting their weight behind our quest.
When we gather at K2022, there are even greater reasons for optimism and confidence than we had in 2019: with the technical circularity capacity of polystyrene long a given, the entire value chain is now turning this inherent capacity to reality, even for food contact applications. We arrive focused on the future, determined to optimise circular supply chains and accelerate scale-up in order to deliver on our mission to have styrenics fulfil their capacity to make a significant contribution to the circular economy.
Jens Kathmann is the Secretary General of Styrenics Circular Solutions.
Register to attend the Styrenics Circular Solutions panel discussion at the K2022 trade fair, 21 October.