Plastics recycling after the global pandemic: resurgence or regression?
In a perspective published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Sebastian Kahlert and Catharina Bening outline why the future of plastics recycling could be determined by the path society takes in combating economic aftermath of COVID-19.
The perspective illustrates the distortion of the value chain during COVID-19 and presents two scenarios for developments after the crisis. One option is to halt recent developments towards a more circular economy and return to using standard packaging materials that are optimized on price and traditional performance criteria. The other is to enter a phase of consolidation, with stronger companies investing in the latest technologies and driving the circularity of plastics.
Besides the obvious consequences for key sustainability topics such as plastics waste and resource conservation, the perspective also relates to upcoming governmental decisions on emergency support mechanisms. This support has the potential to bolster an industrial transition towards circular plastics, but also runs the risk of cementing current industrial structures for years to come.
The full text is Download freely available for download (PDF, 123 KB) under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.