FLOETER Verpackungs-Service GmbH’s Post

What If Plastic Bags Are Deemed Recyclable?

“Unlike paper, glass and metal, plastic is not easily, efficiently turned into new products. What passes for “recycling” plastic is costly, energy-intensive and toxic. On top of all that, the process requires the addition of a shocking amount of new virgin plastic — around 70 percent — to hold the newly formed plastic item together. As a result, only about 5 percent of plastic gets “recycled” (or, more accurately, “downcycled” into a product of inferior quality). Compare that with a 68 percent recycling rate for paper and cardboard.” “ I know. We’ve been told for decades that the answer to the plastic-waste crisis is more, better recycling: If only we sorted better! If only we had better access to recycling technologies! If only we washed and dried our plastics more adequately! This is all a smokescreen, designed to distract us from the truth that plastic recycling — if by “recycling” we mean converting a used material into a new material of similar value and function — is a myth.”

Have you ever noticed the numbers on the bottom of plastic items and wondered what they mean? 🤔 Or questioned if your Ziploc bags can be recycled? Explore my latest blog post to discover the secret code behind plastics! https://lnkd.in/ebpDHCQ2 ♻ Recycling's Unknown Language - How to Smart Recycle

Since the 1950s, around 5 billion tons of plastic have gone to landfills, and recycling efforts have only tackled 9% of our production. Thankfully, a new method of plastic removal may be on the horizon. Researchers have developed a process that breaks down waste plastic into constituent parts. While it was expensive resource-wise at first, they've created an improved process that works on polyethylene, from which most plastic bags are made, and polypropylene, which is used to make harder objects. It relies only on catalysts considered so common that they are essentially “dirt.” #Plastic #Recycling #PlasticPollution https://lnkd.in/dSs9-rqT

🔄️ Sustainability in Action: The Importance of Recycling Polypropylene Bags. Polypropylene (PP), widely used for packaging and industrial applications, presents a significant opportunity for recycling and sustainability. Despite its widespread use, from consumer goods packaging to industrial bulk bags, the journey of PP recycling involves specialized processes to transform this durable material back into reusable forms. Recycling polypropylene not only supports environmental sustainability but also aligns with the growing eco-conscious consumer base. Businesses are encouraged to adopt PP recycling programs to contribute to a circular economy, reducing waste and promoting a greener future. At Codefine, we’re committed to sustainability, offering recyclable polypropylene packaging solutions. Discover how we can help your business become a part of the solution. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/djR82Nfr #recyclepp #sustainablepackaging #polypropylenerecycling #PackagingSolutions #fibcbags #SupplyChainInnovation #LogisticsInnovation #supplychainsolutions #SupplyChainManagement #materialhandling #codefine #unfibcbags #PackagingSolutions #sustainablepackaging #CodefineInnovation

I find these types of guides a useful window on to the current problems we face with recycling in the UK. 9 'tips for better plastics recycling', 12 different 'packaging symbols explained', 10 different 'contaminants' that are 'wishcycled'...and so on. Why do we constantly place so much intellectual labour on to the individual? It shouldn't be this hard really, should it? Until we get it right, it's good to know that Which?, WRAP and others are out trying to make sense of, and to communicate, that complexity to people...but I look forward to these sorts of guides not having to exist.

#ICYMI Bottles without labels, commonly known as labelless or 'label-free' bottles, are crafted from a singular material like plastic or glass, eliminating the need for an external label or sleeve. The demand for such packaging is on the rise, especially for widely recycled products like PET bottles, as the presence of an outer plastic label can pose challenges to recyclability. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) stands out as the most recycled plastic globally, achieving recycling rates exceeding 50% in specific regions, such as India, Europe, and South Korea[i]. However, there remains room for improvement in enhancing these recycling figures. A notable step in this direction is the removal of labels from PET bottles. To delve deeper into this topic, explore our blog. #Labelling #PETLabelling #Sustainability #EcoFriendlyProduction

Since the 1950s, around 5 billion tons of plastic have gone to landfills, and recycling efforts have only tackled 9% of our production. Thankfully, a new method of plastic removal may be on the horizon. Researchers have developed a process that breaks down waste plastic into constituent parts. While it was expensive resource-wise at first, they've created an improved process that works on polyethylene, from which most plastic bags are made, and polypropylene, which is used to make harder objects. It relies only on catalysts considered so common that they are essentially “dirt.” #Plastic #Recycling #PlasticPollution https://lnkd.in/dSs9-rqT

♻ Global Recycling Day 2024 ♻ Monday marks the 7th annual Global Recycling Day with a twofold mission: - To lobby and highlight to world leaders the importance of this issue within legislation - To encourage a shift in attitude towards goods that are currently thought of as waste when they can still be a valued resource We hope to add our voice to the second of these points with a blog from Koen Nickmans that looks at additives that can be used to improve the process of creating new goods from recycled plastics. Here, he discusses improving the melt flow index, mechanical properties and odour which are common issues when formulating with recycled plastics. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/epiDxj5n #globalrecyclingday #recycling #recycledplastic

Great (lay-friendly) article from Lisa Song in ProPublica on pyrolisis, PR and greenwashing in the chemical recycling of plastics. The bottom line: pyrolisis can't fix the plastics crisis. It's inefficient, and the plastic it produces contains little recycled content (over 90% of the resulting plastic comes from regular fossil fuels). To obscure this, many manufacturers use 'mass balance' - essentially an accounting trick - to inflate the stated recycled content of their products. Hardly any plastic is being produced through pyrolisis other than in small scale trials and pilots. What little production there is often uses untouched 'pre-consumer' plastic as its raw material - a far cry from what most people would imagine when they think of recycling. At best, within the next few years pyrolisis could produce just 0.2% of new plastic. At worst, it's hard to see it as much other than a PR magic trick designed to shift the conversation away from what really needs to happen: reducing plastic production. https://lnkd.in/gBs4Pbgc