Page 34 - Plastics News August - 2023

the entire process, emphasised von voluntary extended producer respon- systems that are already in place,
Stauffenberg. He explained that the sibility arrangement. We then provide whether they're formal or informal
pyrolysis oil produced is very similar them with certificates through eco2V- systems. After all, if that flexible ma-
to naphtha but is sold at a significant eritas,” he explained. It is a model that terial is being collected, it's going into
premium above the current mar- he is intent on expanding too many landfill or incineration. If it's not, then
ket price. “Plus, demand is high and more brand owners. obviously, it's accumulating in the en-
growing fast. There is a risk of fraud Greenback must not only be able to vironment. And that’s problematic.”
in the market, as it would be easy to prove that it is truly waste that is com- Future plans
mix fossil naphtha into the oil and pass ing in and that the volume is equiva-
it off as pure pyrolysis oil. We need to lent to the volume of packaging that with the first commercial plant now
make absolutely sure that if we say the companies have produced. It up and running, Greenback has plans
something has recycled content, that must also demonstrate that its collec- to instal more plants in other parts
it is true – whether it is chemically or tion system is fair, inclusive, and equi- of Mexico, North and Latin America,
mechanically recycled – as otherwise, table in terms of the wages paid to the and then Africa, Asia and Europe. Von
the industry value chain will lose cred- waste pickers and that no child labour Stauffenberg aims to establish a de-
ibility and consumer trust.” is used. “We use smart contracts to centralised network of collection and

eco2Veritas™ is a blockchain-based pay the collectors objectively accord- recycling plants near sources of post-
consumer plastic waste worldwide to
system that offers complete trans- ing to the quality and volume of the produce recycled feedstocks suitable
parency, certification and traceability waste they bring us. The real point is for the petrochemical and plastics in-
throughout the entire circular value that it is one thing to have the physical dustry value chain to close the loop.
chain. “So, we can prove that our technology, but it is still really impor-
claims are true,” he stressed. tant to create a market for the flexible And this is what the AEPW wants to
enable, by providing the support and
And it has also enabled a further step, plastics that otherwise wouldn't find credibility needed to realise these am-
he added, relating to the collection its way into the recycling system.” bitions.
systems Kolesch referred to previ- Right now, the higher value plastics
ously. are finding their way into the recycling “We aim for these kinds of holistic so-
lutions, where it's not just one piece
“Greenback had already signed an market, while the lower value plastics of the puzzle, but, like this project in
agreement with Nestlé, but we’ve - the multilayer packaging, the flexi- Mexico, several pieces of the puzzle,
now signed another one to be an- bles, and the various films - are more all in one,” said Kolesch. “These are
nounced soon. They will pay us to difficult to get into end markets. the projects that enable us to advance
collect - on their behalf – an amount Kolesch: “So, if we can foster that and scale innovative solutions for the
of waste that is equivalent to the ton- demand through technologies like circularity of plastics worldwide.”
nage of waste that they put into the Greenback’s, we're going to be able
market as packaging; in other words, a to gain a lot more volume from the

34 PLASTICS NEWS August 2023
34 PLASTICS NEWS
August 2023