On 30 June, the British Plastics Federation (BPF), in partnership with PlasticsEurope, will host an in-depth 90-minute online seminar on chemical recycling.
“There is a great need to recycle more to advance towards the objective of a circular economy. Alongside mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, will be an essential tool in creating value out of waste fractions which have so far proven difficult to recycle,” explained Philip Law, Director General of the BPF.
Speakers include James Bull, Head of Packaging at Tesco who will talk about the role chemical recycling can play in the future for the UK’s leading supermarket; as well as experts from Chemical Recycling Europe who will address the current state of play of chemical recycling across Europe; PETcore Europe, on PET trends in chemical recycling and BASF, on the contribution of chemical recycling to targets.
In addition, Professor John McGeehan from Portsmouth University will share the latest developments in enzyme recycling, including the recently discovered enzyme that ‘eats’ plastic. Professor McGeehan will share the full details of this breakthrough and explain what it means for bio-chemical recycling industry.
As chemical recycling increasingly gains traction in the industry, it nevertheless also has its detractors. A recent report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, for example, argued that there are still too many questions about chemical recycling of plastics, including its carbon footprint and emissions, for it to be considered a viable solution to plastics waste problems.
Other studies have pointed to the high costs associated with chemical recycling, which make it especially challenging to be competitive in times of low oil prices.
This deep dive into the topic will seek to provide more insight into these and other aspects. More information is available from the BPF.