Know your plastic?

Plastic has been a game-changer for a multitude of industries worldwide. Its durability, lightweight, and cost-effectiveness have made the material integral to modern life, found in everything from packaging and household items to medical devices and automotive parts.

Plastics come in various types, each with distinct properties, applications, and compositions. These differences in composition control how much oil the material yields in a recycling process. Plastic types like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), with higher hydrogen-to-carbon ratios, yield more oil. The structure of the plastic also matters; long, linear chains produce more oil than branched ones. Additives and fillers, used to enhance plastic properties, can reduce oil yield, and increase the gas and residue production. Higher-density plastics generally yield more oil, as they contain more hydrocarbons.

The EU has introduced new waste management directives aimed at improving environmental sustainability and promoting a circular economy. Key regulations include stricter controls on waste exports, enhanced recycling targets, and the prohibition of plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries from November 2026​.

Additionally, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive aims to ensure that all packaging on the EU market is reusable or recyclable by 2030. It sets targets for reducing packaging waste, mandates the use of recycled content in plastic packaging.

However, the EU has yet to define or standardise the approach to chemical recycling. Despite being recognised by the European Union as a contributor to circular economy, there is still lacking regulatory framework for the process. As technology advances, a clearer path forward for chemical recycling must be defined to play a key role in recycling of plastic waste.

Other countries, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Canada, have also implemented comprehensive waste management policies. These policies generally focus on reducing waste generation, enhancing recycling efforts, and ensuring proper disposal of hazardous materials. They promote the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, and often include extended producer responsibility schemes that hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.