Facts about Advanced Recycling
With advanced recycling as an option, the often painstaking task of separating plastics from other contaminants can be largely avoided. Image: Envato Elements
The food packaging industry is constantly seeking more sustainable and efficient solutions to minimize the environmental impact of plastic waste. Although plastic offers numerous benefits such as being lightweight, reducing greenhouse gas emissions during transportation, and extending the shelf life of perishable goods, traditional recycling methods fail to address the challenges posed by certain types of plastic packaging.
The Recycling Dilemma: While easily recyclable plastics like water bottles and milk jugs are widely processed, complex plastic packaging containing multiple layers of materials often cannot be traditionally recycled. As a result, only 14% of plastic packaging is repurposed using conventional methods, leaving a staggering 86% of this waste unaccounted for.
Advanced Recycling: The Solution to Plastic Packaging Waste: To tackle this issue, a new class of technologies known as advanced recycling has emerged. These innovative methods hold the potential to process the majority of used plastics, transforming them into new products and significantly reducing waste. Since 2017, the United States has seen the announcement of over 70 advanced recycling projects, with the capacity to divert more than 5.5 million metric tons (approximately 12.1 billion pounds) of waste from landfills annually.
In Conclusion & an Interactive Resource
Advanced recycling presents a promising solution for the food packaging industry, offering a more sustainable and efficient approach to handling plastic waste. By embracing these cutting-edge technologies, the sector can significantly reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to a greener future.
For an informative, interactive exercise that provides even more information on Advanced Recyling, follow this link to INSIDER magazine. Pan down to the base of the article where you’ll see four yellow gears under a conveyor belt that is loaded with plastic waste. Press the buttons to see the advanced recycling process in-action.
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