Plastic is omnipresent in our modern economy, from packaging to textiles to cars. Yet its environmental impact has become a global emergency: every year, more than 350 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated, of which less than 10% is actually recycled. Faced with this reality, the transition to a circular economy for plastics is no longer an option, but a necessity.
A sector under regulatory and industrial pressure
Regulations are playing a driving role in the sector’s development. The European Union is now imposing ambitious targets for the incorporation of recycled materials in plastic packaging: 30% recycled plastic by 2030 for PET bottles. Manufacturers, under pressure from consumers and investors, are also committing to increasing their use of recycled resins.
Mechanical recycling vs. chemical recycling: what are the solutions for the future?
While mechanical recycling remains the most widespread solution, it does have its limitations: degraded polymer quality, difficulty in processing complex plastics and an inability to meet the requirements of the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Chemical recycling is emerging as a strategic alternative, capable of :
- Breaking down complex plastics into virgin raw materials,
- Offering qualities equivalent to fossil plastics,
- Securing the supply of recycled materials for industrial companies.
However, this sector faces a number of challenges in scaling up to industrial scale, including cost control, access to waste streams and the carbon impact of processes.
Transition players: opportunities and challenges
The development of this new sector offers a host of opportunities for investors and manufacturers:
- Investing in innovative technologies/projects to position themselves in these high-growth potential markets
- Develop synergies between waste production and recovery, in particular through partnerships with the various players in the value chain
- Secure volumes of recycled resins to meet the challenges of regulatory compliance and competitiveness on the European market.
At E-CUBE Strategy Consultants, we help manufacturers, investors and players in the plastics industry to analyse opportunities and build robust strategies to meet these challenges.
Would you like to find out more about the future of plastics recycling?
Contact our experts or consult our latest report below (currently available in French only, English version coming soon).
