The shift to a circular economy for plastics
Transitioning to a circular economy is vital. To do so, we must harness the power of innovation and technology to significantly increase reuse and recycling by, for example, creating more recyclable products and more innovative recycling techniques. The shift also requires a policy and regulatory framework that helps promote chemical recycling and harmonised collection and mechanical recycling, while stimulating investment and the growth of markets for secondary raw materials.
Although the circular economy is a highly effective concept for preventing plastics from ending up in landfill, being incinerated or polluting our oceans while we continue to enjoy their benefits, additional measures are also necessary. These include stopping the prevention of any and all pellet loss from our operations, ensuring the proper disposal of post-consumer plastics waste for increased collection and sorting as well as greater awareness raising within our industry and civil society.
However, the circular economy for plastics is not just about waste. While eliminating leakage and the increased use of secondary materials is one part of the picture, the widespread adoption of renewable feedstocks completes this picture.