Sustainability in plastics is sometimes something of a hard sell. And admittedly, it can be often unclear to those outside the industry just what sustainability has to do with plastics, if anything.
Sustainability, however, is most certainly an important theme, and one that impacts every single aspect of the plastics industry, from feedstock or machinery choices to product design and end of life. Just how broadly this theme has penetrated the industry is demonstrated in the present issue of Sustainable Plastics, in which two almost opposite ends of the spectrum are discussed.
On the one hand, we look at the relatively young technology of additive manufacturing and how an even more recent technology - artificial intelligence – is opening up new opportunities and application possibilities. On the other, we take an in-depth look at the age-old practice of composting and the striving of the US-based BPI to recognise this end-of-life option as a fully-fledged, valuable solution, especially for contaminated food packaging that is not suitable for recycling.
Digital by nature, additive manufacturing has been heralded as a key enabler for more sustainable production, by improving resource efficiency and product quality, while reducing waste, emissions and energy consumption. Adding AI to the mix can enhance and optimise these advantages in ways that are still being explored.
Composting, by contrast, has been practised from time immemorial. Today, in the US, the BPI is working to advance the transition to a more circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of (plastic) materials designed to biodegrade. This organisation is vehement about the need to re-evaluate industrial composting as a credible, sustainable end-of-life solution, on the same level as recycling.
Is that something that needs to be emphasised? It would seem so.
In Europe, the past years have seen the emergence of policies and legislation prioritising the reduction of resource use, keeping materials of all feedstocks, including biobased feedstocks, in the loop as long as possible, and using secondary raw materials where feasible instead of primary raw materials. A similar trend is seen in the US.
This has resulted, in the words of Rhodes Yepsen, CEO of the BPI, in a ‘laser focus’ on reducing, reuse or recycling combined with a tendency to ignore the potential of compostability, whilst ‘we are striving for a complementary approach’.
Valid concerns exist regarding unfounded degradability claims, environmental impact, confusion about which products are compostable, and where. Yet these are issues that can be addressed with certification and standards, better consumer education and – in particular – clear, unambiguous labelling.
Interestingly, survey after survey has shown that consumers perceive compostable packaging as one of the most sustainable options available - for which most are reportedly willing to pay more for. Sustainability, it would appear, doesn’t have to be such a hard sell after all.
Check out this latest issue here.