By Karin Molenveld
Programme Manager Renewable Plastics, Wageningen University & Research
New European legislation for packaging materials, such as Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), aims to reduce the negative environmental impact of plastic use by restricting the use of plastic packaging and reducing the use of virgin (fossil) plastics. Many companies are concerned about the PPWR: are the objectives feasible and is there room for innovation and applications of new biobased and/or biodegradable solutions? Within the European PROSPER-project and the Renewable Plastics programme of Wageningen University & Research, we see the pros and cons of this new legislation to reverse the negative impact of plastics. However, we also see many opportunities, for example for large scale recycling of new biobased plastics.
When it comes to introducing new applications, materials and systems, we often get stuck in our own way. We think too much in terms of what we have and use now, and an alternative ‘should be’ similar or better and meet all current conditions and standards. New biobased plastics are therefore rarely included in future scenarios, because they cannot always deliver an exact copy of fossil-produced products. The Renewable Plastics programme of Wageningen University & Research advocates that companies, governments and consumers dare to opt for a combination of solutions that may now deviate somewhat from the ideal picture, but ultimately accelerate the transition to sustainable plastics. We see opportunities for decisions that can reverse the negative impact of plastics. It’s up to companies and policy makers to dare to make them.
Opportunity 1: Take the packaging purpose as a starting point
An example: the packaging materials we currently use may have properties that are not needed or even not suited for their application. Plastics packaging for (precut) vegetables for instance needs holes to allow water vapor transmission, thereby extending the shelf life. In essence, the barrier function of the packaging without holes is actually too good and other starting materials might be more suitable. By thinking from the purpose that the packaging must serve, we can make a big difference. Some manufacturers are already on board. At WUR we for instance currently successfully experimenting with PLA (a biobased plastic with a lower water vapor barrier that can be industrially composted) to use in packaging for those (precut) vegetables. We are scaling up an experiment with PLA trays for fish and meat, because the traditional packaging solutions used in this application do not fit well into the current recycling system and as such industrial composting could be a feasible alternative. We’re killing two birds with one stone; no fossil raw materials and improvement of the recycling system. I see the cooperation of manufacturers as one of the results of the Green Deal and that brings me to the second opportunity to reduce the plastic soup and microplastic pollution: regulations.
Opportunity 2: Rules act as a catalyst
I could criticize the slow development of the Green Deal and the many amendments to the PPWR, but I also see that the reduction of single-use plastics and fossil raw materials, and recycling of plastics, has received a boost thanks to these deals and rules. That is favorable, because successful recycling requires sufficient volumes of recyclate to become (cost)efficient. The recycling of used ‘fossil’ PET bottles, stimulated by the deposit system and minimum recycled content, is a great example. The returned bottles form a very pure stream for making new ones. However, even PET bottles only contain an average 25% recycled raw material and a fully circular system does not exist. Overall, we would do great if we could produce 500 kilos of plastic products out of 1000 kilos of packaging brought onto the market. Losses during collection, sorting and recycling can easily add up to 50% of plastics disappearing into waste incinerators and even into nature. This calls for alternative materials and solutions with a potential for new biobased materials with improved recycling opportunities for improvement.[1]
Opportunity 3: Increase the share of renewable raw materials
The PPWR requires that all packaging must be recyclable by 2030. They also must fit into the waste system and be recycled on a large scale by 2035. Recycling is a system property, in which uniformity (think of the PET ‘success’) and relative volumes are important. By collecting even more – either forced or stimulated – and by improving sorting and recycling techniques, the volume of reusable plastic can grow and the recycling yield can quickly become much higher. This applies to both fossil and biobased plastics. For example, we see that the industry finds biobased PLA increasingly attractive, because the volumes are growing and the material can be sorted and recycled very well. It’s simple mathematics: if we can collect enough, the recycling system becomes cheaper. Still, technical optimization for PLA recycling is required and full industrial demonstration needs to be realized. The PROSPER project strives to do exactly this, and is as such an essential part of this transition.
Opportunity 4: Use intrinsically better recyclable plastics
Recycling of PET bottles is a positive exception when it comes to reusing fossil plastic. A lot of other fossil plastic remains unrecycled or are downcycled. The fact remains that even if we succeed in making half of plastic products from recyclate in the future, that is already quite a lot. However, the chances of getting to 50% are slim. Using the current recycling methods most (fossil based) recyclate is not allowed in food packaging. Biobased polyesters, such as PLA, offer a solution. The PROSPER project and other studies attempts to demonstrate that this type of plastic can be recycled to a high quality at high yields, just like PET. This significantly increases the application possibilities which extends much further than the one-off applications we see now happening with recycled fossil based plastics, like roadside posts, pallets or railway sleepers.
Opportunity 5: Extend the use of biodegradable plastics
There’s a difference between biobased and biodegradable. Biodegradable, or compostable plastics, offer significant environmental benefits, especially in the processing of organic waste flows and agriculture. Biodegradable plastics decompose in a relatively short time in a specific environment, such as in a composting plant or in the ground. They can therefore replace ‘fossil’ mulching films or plant pots to prevent the accumulation of microplastics. Compostable plastics are also a solution for products that are already compostable themselves, such as coffee and tea. Here, ‘throwing away’ of, for example, cups, pads and bags wins over ‘recycling’ when it comes to sustainability and circularity.
Cleaner and healthier
We propose that governments and companies do not look for one solution that is 100% perfect and based on current fossil plastics, but for a combination of solutions that together are a step in the right direction. The focus on perfecting solutions blocks progress. Know that nothing is right at once and transition phases are part of progress. Together with researchers, manufacturers, knowledge institutes and purchasers we can take both leaps and steps to reduce the plastic soup, microplastic pollution and CO2 emissions. Even in a world with plastics, we can live a cleaner and healthier life.
The Renewable Plastics programme researches the properties and processing of renewable plastics and the possibilities of non-persistent plastics; develops renewable plastics and supports strategy and policy development for renewable plastics. The PROSPER project, a European consortium of universities, knowledge institutes and companies, on recycling biobased plastics is an integral part of this programme. Want to know more about the road to sustainable plastics in 2050? Read our articles here.
Disclaimer. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission, CBEJU, or other PROSPER partners.
[1] In 2021 the market consisted of 1.5 % biobased plastics, 8,3% post-consumer recycled plastics and 90,2 % virgin fossil-based plastics. https://plasticseurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PE-PLASTICS-THE-FACTS_V7-Tue_19-10-1.pdf
