INNOVATION | CHEMICAL RECYCLING
combination of mechanical and advanced recy- cling solutions is necessary to fully solve the problem,” says Roesser. “Our path has always been supporting zero-waste directives and to find full utilisation of all parts of the materials we process.” Encina says that future developments are looking to the increasing amounts of plastics that involve multiple polymer materials, a wide variation in quality, and the long list of #7 (other non-recycable) plastics. The company aims to expand recyclability beyond thermoplastic resins, which are currently the primary focus for the recycling industry. Neste is seeing increasing interest in chemical
Above: Neste says its refinery in Porvoo, Finland, offers good opportuni- ties for transforming and reusing existing assets and processes for new purposes, such as upgrading liquefied waste plastic into high-quality petrochemical feedstock
ments current recycling strategies such as reuse and reduction, as well as mechanical recycling.” There are several technical areas of interest at
present. “Historically, one of the primary challenges has been meeting our customers’ specifications and quality requirements, whether they are partners with us in mechanical recycling or taking our chemical products toward their own polymer production,” says Roesser. “As an integrated recycler, we work with respected technology leaders within each industry, from the areas of optical sortation and recycling plant design all the way to those focused on achieving high purity products that meet chemical specifications. Our vision is to innovate where the opportunities exist and bring together expertise where synergies matter.” One of Encina’s latest innovations is enabling the conversion of mixed plastics waste (for exam- ple, inclusive of PS and other plastics) and also working out how to accept materials typically bound for landfills or incinerators. He says: “Part of the challenge is addressing contaminants con- tained within the plastics and treatment of multi- component materials. Since it is necessary to meet high purity requirements for our products, Encina developed an intimate understanding of how to properly manage what we call ‘the A-to-Z of all things plastic’ and what is within them.” Encina says that it works with a variety of
recycling companies, polymer manufacturers and consumer brands to help them enhance their approaches to increasing their recycling rates, whether curb side or through other collections. “It is always exciting to solve problems for some of the more complicated and complex materials where a
16 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2023
recycling solutions from brand owners. “Compa- nies are looking for ways to meet their climate targets and pledges that often include the use of recycled materials,” says Neste. “At the same time, they are preparing for regulatory pressure. In the EU, but also in other regions, we are seeing more regulatory initiatives taking shape that are looking to enforce or incentivise recycled content in polymers. Together with mechanical recycling, chemical recycling can contribute to achieving the pledges, targets and meeting regulatory require- ments in the future.”
Neste continues: “Chemical recycling is comple- mentary to existing mechanical recycling technolo- gies: it tackles waste streams that are currently hard-to-recycle, while providing high-quality feedstock for new polymers. Every cycle of mechan- ical recycling also deteriorates mechanical proper- ties of the polymer and chemical recycling can ‘reset’ those properties for material that has gone through a few rounds of mechanical recycling. It therefore has two major benefits. It increases the recyclable waste pool, and it allows for recycled content even in the most demanding applications, for example, medical or food-contact applications.” However, regulation needs to catch up as chemical recycling closes in on becoming an industrial-scale solution. “What is urgently required at this time is a regulatory framework that supports this transition. We are getting into a phase where companies have to take major investments to scale up the technologies. At the same time, it is not necessarily clear in every region whether policies consider chemical recycling as recycling or as incineration and if the output is considered fulfilling mandates for recycled content in products. Who invests hundreds of millions or even billions into a recycling technology without having certainty that it is considered a recycling technology? We need clarity on these questions, and we need it fast.” The main areas of interest revolve around first being able to process as wide a variety of plastics as
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IMAGE: NESTE
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