Geoff Mackey’s Post

Major plastics and polymers producers like Dow fully support an agreement that will eliminate plastic pollution and improve climate change mitigation while preserving the enormous benefits of plastic in our society. With demand for plastic on the rise globally and inadequate waste management systems in many countries, driving more sustainable production and addressing the growing problem of plastic waste are urgent priorities.   Truly sustainable production goes beyond how much is produced: it includes leveraging alternative and waste plastic feedstocks, creating products for both sustainability and performance, and embracing lower-emissions production. Circularity also starts with design. Whether it’s recyclable, metal-free coffee packaging, toothpaste tubes, shrink films, or cable jackets made from recycled material, we are seeing tremendous advances in sustainable design that can change the way plastics are used and managed post-use.   Learn more here via our CEO Jim Fitterling https://lnkd.in/gmJRWwrD #INC5 #DesignedforCircularity

🌍 Transforming Plastic Waste into Value: A Step Forward in Recycling Innovation 🌿 Exciting breakthroughs in sustainability are happening! Researchers, led by Associate Professor Guoliang (Greg) Liu, have developed a pioneering method to upcycle plastic waste into soap and detergents. By leveraging the chemical similarity between polyethylene (common in plastic bags and bottles) and fatty acids, the team has created an innovative process to convert waste into valuable products. 🧼 This method not only addresses global plastic pollution but also offers economic benefits, turning waste into resources worth $3,550 per metric ton—compared to polyethylene’s $1,150 per metric ton. 🚀 Zhenpeng Xu, the lead author, highlights: "Our research demonstrates a new route for plastic upcycling without using novel catalysts or complex procedures." This innovation simplifies recycling by handling mixed plastic waste and requiring minimal inputs—just heat and plastic. It's scalable, impactful, and ready to redefine how we approach waste management. ♻️ A big shoutout to Nuwayo Eric Munyaneza and the team for making this possible, pushing the boundaries of materials science for a greener future. Let’s continue driving innovation and sustainability forward! 🌟 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ej79WUHP #RecyclingInnovation #Sustainability #Upcycling #STEM #Engineering #PlasticWaste #CircularEconomy

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟱𝟬? 😱     This scenario is alarmingly probable, unless we boost our current recycling rate, which is only at 9%.     Fortunately, methods to create value from discarded plastics do exist. Depending on the type of technology used, great value can come from recycling plastic waste.      For #PlasticFreeJuly, we’re highlighting pyrolysis as one of the most promising plastic recycling processes with the least adverse effects. So, what makes plastic pyrolysis unique?      🔹 #Pyrolysis can handle a wide variety of plastic types, including those that are difficult to recycle through traditional methods, such as multi-layer packaging, mixed plastic waste, and ‘contaminated plastics’ like those used in food packaging.     🔹 Converting plastic waste into oil via pyrolysis can help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution associated with plastic waste. In fact, research reveals that recycling post-use plastic through pyrolysis can reduce GHG emissions by 18-23%.    🔹 The plastic pyrolysis process is beneficial because pre-sorting is not required, and the plastic waste can be directly fed without pretreatment prior to the process. Products of plastic pyrolysis are pyrolysis oil, a hydrocarbon-rich gas, with a heating value of 25–45 MJ/kg, which makes it ideal for energy recovery.     💡Though some entrepreneurial minds are already embracing plastic waste fuels (like Gijs Schalkx who runs his car entirely on plastic 👀) scaling up the production of fuel from plastic is still in its early stages.     Our mission at GoodFuels is to drive consistent innovation for a #BetterWorld 🌍 As part of our innovation agenda, we are always on the lookout for methods to scale up the production of fuel from plastic waste.      → Hungry for more (knowledge, not plastic 😅)? Learn more about plastic recycling methods and their challenges › fuels.to/plastic #FutureFuels #GoodFuels #BetterWorld

🌍 Unwrapping the Plastic Waste Problem 🌍 In the 1940s, the chemical industry promised society a "bright future molded in plastics.". Less than an average human lifetime later, plastic has become one of the most pressing environmental issues on earth today. 🥤 🍫 ♻ At Hitachi Ventures, Jan & Tobias have spent the past 12 months exploring the plastic recycling market. Dive into our findings and discover: 1️⃣ Barriers to Adoption: Understand what has hindered the widespread adoption of recycling methods in the past. 2️⃣ New Opportunities: Learn why now is the perfect time for novel recycling methods to emerge. 3️⃣ Market Landscape: Explore the current market landscape and the exciting innovations on the horizon. 🔗 Click to read more and join us on this journey towards a sustainable future! https://lnkd.in/d8FBs5J2 #Circularity #Plastic #Recycling #HitachiVentures

Just over a century since the first fully synthetic plastic was patented, the material is now ubiquitous in daily life. Plastic serves many purposes in essential industries, whether it be to prolong the shelf life of perishable food, enable safe and effective medical care, reduce the weight of and improve performance in automotives, and more. However, plastic consumption has become intrinsically correlated with economic growth and, coupled with the lack of waste management for 2.7 billion people, the ensuing waste has become a serious challenge. Plastic waste is a vast and increasingly urgent issue. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste discusses the urgency of the issue and what must be done to tackle it. #PlasticWaste #PlasticRecycling #CircularEconomy #WasteManagement https://bit.ly/3QW0F63

The plastic recycling market is ripe for disruption. Regulatory support, increasing consumer awareness, and pressure on FMCGs have already spurred initial adoption. We are excited to share our market analysis on plastic recycling that we worked on the past months ♻ Special thanks to Jan Marchewski on the great work.   #HitachiVentures #Hitachi #PlasticRecycling #Circularity

Just over a century since the first fully synthetic plastic was patented, the material is now ubiquitous in daily life. Plastic serves many purposes in essential industries, whether it be to prolong the shelf life of perishable food, enable safe and effective medical care, reduce the weight of and improve performance in automotives, and more. However, plastic consumption has become intrinsically correlated with economic growth and, coupled with the lack of waste management for 2.7 billion people, the ensuing waste has become a serious challenge. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste discusses the urgency of the issue and what must be done to tackle it. #PlasticWaste #Sustainability #PlasticPollution https://bit.ly/3QW0F63

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Plastics recycling has become an essential component in addressing the global challenge of plastic waste. With the increasing consumption of plastic products, the environmental burden has grown, leading to severe pollution in oceans, landfills, and natural ecosystems. Recycling plastic helps mitigate these issues by reducing the need for virgin plastic production, conserving natural resources, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The process involves collecting and processing discarded plastic items, such as bottles, containers, and packaging, which are then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new products. This circular economy approach not only decreases the volume of plastic waste but also contributes to energy savings and reduced environmental impact, as producing recycled plastic generally requires less energy than manufacturing new plastic from raw materials. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭—𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 @ https://lnkd.in/dnr8Qzh4 However, the effectiveness of plastics recycling is hampered by several challenges. One of the primary obstacles is the complex and diverse nature of plastic types, which often necessitates sophisticated sorting and processing technologies. Contamination of recyclable plastics, such as food residues and non-recyclable materials, further complicates the recycling process, leading to lower quality recycled products. Additionally, the economics of recycling can be unfavorable, as the cost of collecting and processing plastic waste sometimes exceeds the value of the recycled material. Despite these challenges, advancements in recycling technologies and growing consumer awareness are driving improvements in the efficiency and profitability of plastic recycling. Governments and industries worldwide are also implementing stricter regulations and incentives to promote recycling, making it a critical component of sustainable waste management strategies. 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: Indorama Ventures Public Co Ltd Veolia WM Intellectual Property Holdings LLC Unilever Johnson Matthey SUEZ Republic Services REMONDIS Gruppe Econic Technologies Ltd The Shakti Plastic Industries Biffa Waste Connections Clean Harbors KW Plastics B & B Plastics, Inc. #PlasticsRecycling #Sustainability #WasteManagement #EcoFriendly #CircularEconomy #GoGreen #ReduceReuseRecycle

🌍 Transforming Plastic Waste into Sustainable Solutions! 🌍 We’re excited to announce that SABIC has launched an innovative food-contact vacuum container made from high-gloss polypropylene (PP) resin containing 50% ‘ocean-bound’ plastic! This partnership with SAES Getters’ B!POD is a game-changer in sustainable packaging. The global vacuum packaging market size to grow from USD 28.62 billion in 2022 to reach USD 47.73 billion by 2032, growing at a 5.3% CAGR between 2023 and 2032 : https://lnkd.in/gJjJWwsr 🔹 Impactful Change: By using these containers, we can eliminate over 300 plastic bags per person annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 30 kg per capita. This means a substantial positive effect on our environment! 🔹 Certified and Safe: SABIC’s PP 576P resin is food-contact approved, PFAS- and BPA-free, and supports advanced recycling processes. This resin is designed for easy processing, low warpage, and enhanced impact strength. 🔹 Fully Recyclable: The reusable containers will soon be available across the EU, Switzerland, and the UK, with plans to expand into Asia by 2025. They are fully recyclable within existing polypropylene streams, promoting a circular economy. 🔹 Raising Awareness: Each container features colors inspired by endangered species, designed not only for function but also to raise consumer awareness about environmental issues. Khaled Al-Jalawi, SABIC’s Global Director of Circular Economy Business, notes that this collaboration marks a significant step toward sustainability. Ginevra della Porta, Chief Innovation Officer at SAES Getters, highlights how this initiative minimizes food waste while actively preventing plastic pollution. This is just one of many strides SABIC is making to keep plastic waste out of our oceans, following their work with other brands to incorporate ocean-bound plastics into flexible packaging and consumer products. Let’s embrace this journey towards a more sustainable future together! 💚♻️ #SustainablePackaging #CircularEconomy #OceanBoundPlastic #SABIC #Innovation #ClimateAction #FoodPreservation

With only 10% of global plastic waste being recycled, NTU Singapore researchers are tackling the issue head-on. They’re transforming e-waste plastics for biomedical use, converting difficult-to-recycle plastics into hydrogen and carbon additives, and creating energy-efficient processes to break down plastics into valuable compounds. These innovations aim to foster a circular economy, illustrating NTU's dedication to solving the global plastic waste crisis through cutting-edge recycling methods. https://t.ly/GUn1m