A low carbon circular economy requires systemic changes and collaboration says VTT report

A new discussion paper has been produced by Finland’s VTT, a leading European research institute, offering an overview of the latest technological innovations in food packaging recycling and highlighting the solutions it sees as having the highest commercial potential in the next five years. It also outlines the status of recycling in Europe and the US and the wider societal and technological factors which impact recycling rates.
The report was commissioned by packaging expert Huhtamaki, in part prompted by the ongoing regulatory changes in Europe, where the European Commission has designated the recycling of packaging as one of its top priorities. The latest amendment to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, for example, contains updated measures to promote the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste, as well as targets: by 2025, 50 % of all plastic packaging and 75 % of paper and cardboard is to be recycled.
This report aims to identify and increase the understanding of the key drivers required to deliver a functioning circular economy, in which packaging is not only recyclable, but recycled.
The VTT team examined current and near-future recycling systems for plastic and fibre packaging to discover essential factors for the success of these systems. Adequate infrastructure - the technical development of waste management systems alone was not enough: citizens, too, must be aware and play their part in driving recycling.
‘The system is efficient only when consumers are actively involved in it, and if there is a basic understanding of environmental awareness and information’, notes the report’s author, Mona Arnold, principal scientist at VTT.
As well, alliances between brand owners, recycling and sorting technology developers, and waste management companies are shown to be fundamental to the development of recycling solutions. Such partnerships are essential for future investment in new recycling technology as they provide, on one hand, accessibility to used material, and on the other hand, a potential user for the recyclate.

One such new recycling technology is that of industrial chemical recycling, which promotes the recycling of a more heterogeneous waste input stream than is possible with mechanical recycling. Globally, chemical recycling is a young technology, so the infrastructure to provide feedstocks is still catching up. Current technology providers and investors are indeed usually partnering up with feedstock providers - waste management organisations - to secure raw materials for their facilities.
“The study predicts a significant increase in industrial chemical recycling capacity in the United States, Europe and East Asia in the next 3–4 years. Chemically recycled polymers can be included in food packaging after full depolymerisation, whilst in practice today, recycled polymers certified as food contact material are mainly limited to rPET, used mostly in bottles,” commented Mona Arnold.
Chemical recycling will probably not be the main route in future plastics recycling, but it can make a significant contribution to the recycling of waste plastics, especially for the fraction not meeting the criteria for mechanical recycling processes.
This report supports the approach adopted by Huhtamaki. ”We believe a real push for systemic change – going beyond individual companies and bringing value chains together – towards low carbon circularity is needed today. It is not enough to manufacture recyclable products; they need to be recycled. The VTT report outlines how to make this happen and we hope it acts as reference point to support collaboration between industry, civil society and governments”, said Thomasine Kamerling, EVP Sustainability and Communications at Huhtamaki.
Huhtamaki has an ambitious 2030 sustainability agenda, including a commitment to design 100% of its products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable. The company also aims to have more than 80% of raw materials it uses to be either renewable or recycled. To deliver on these, Huhtamaki needs to ensure that the packaging materials, which provide access to safe, affordable foods and help prevent food waste, are recycled after use in ways that maximise their value to both the planet and people, and therefore help deliver a low carbon circular economy.