MARKET RESEARCH | NEWS
Plastics recycling supply and demand to continue rising
Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, mechanical plastics recycling is expected to grow in most regions, according to AMI Consulting’s new global report. Márta Babits of AMI Consulting shares some of the analysis
An average consumer today uses at least 50 items a day that depend on plastics for their functionality and performance. With global polymer demand passing 275m tonnes in 2019, the plastics processing industry is thriving in most countries, but the industry is also facing new challenges particularly in more devel- oped markets including the US, Europe and North East Asia. Plastic pollution has become a global environ- mental issue, and one that is currently receiving much media attention steering an anti-plastic movement in society.
As packaging accounts
for more than a half of polymer consumption globally and characterised by the shortest lifespans, it is the sector where challenges are most visible and
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
exposed by vested interest groups and political parties. The development of recycling schemes and the use of reclaim material are therefore elements of considerable significance, both commercial and political. Trends in light- weighting and pack size reduction are impacting material choice and con- sumption. Driven by retailers’ demand for the best specifications to extend the shelf-life of their products, the increased use of barrier applications has impacted the recyclability of the packaging. Increasingly the focus is on packaging design with recycling in mind. Most leading global brand owners are now working towards their commitment to ensure 100% of their packaging is recyclable, reusable or
compostable by 2025, and many are committed to deliver a specific recyclable content target in their packaging.
Plastics waste is at the
forefront of many regional and national policy debates around the world in the drive towards a more circular economy. What’s more, the role of recycled plastics materials is increas- ingly valued to improve resource efficiency and sustainable development even in some developing markets with new targets being outlined for plastics recycling, reuse and landfilling. Nevertheless, implementation at national level remains a challenge. To meet the industry targets will require the develop- ment of a new supply chain, investments in capacity, closed-loop recycling and
sorting technology. AMI estimates that 240m tonnes of plastic waste entered the waste stream globally in 2019, of which only 35m tonnes were recycled, giving a global recycling rate of less than 15%. Recycled PE account- ed for almost 40% of global recyclate production followed by rPET and rPP. PET has achieved a high recycling rate thanks to a well-established recycling infrastructure for PET bottles (both bottle-to-bottle and bottle-to-fibre) in many countries across the world. Flexible packaging is the largest end-use market segment for plastics recyclates, accounting for 20% of global consumption in 2019, followed by fibres and building and infrastruc- ture applications. The Chinese National
July/August 2020 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 13
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