Page 61 - Plastics News Issue December 2024
P. 61
IN THE NEWS
can be returned to their monomers. Once these product lines. For example, the plastics bot-
monomers are produced then they can be re- tles are chopped, melted and reextruded
claimed to plastic products in the industry. as yarns for production of T-shirts, jackets,
among others. These products also assist in
♦ PETase and MHETase: MHETase and PETase the reduction of the raw material required
belong to dozens of enzymes identified so from the natural resources and also help in
far for the depolymerization of PET plastics. common internalization of decentralized re-
Plastic degrading enzymes are synthesized cycling programs.
in specific microbes or bacteria and fungi
whose main function is to decompose plas- ♦ Building Materials: Recycled plastic can also
tics in the environment. To improve the ef- be applied to construction. Firms have found
ficiency and capacity of these enzyme, re- a way to convert plastics into construc-
searchers have been researching on these tive materials like bricks, tiles and insulators
enzymes. A further analysis of various en- among others. It can also assist in the en-
zyme variants – for instance, it has enabled deavor to make constructions less depend-
researchers to enhance the efficiency of ent on the more ruthless conventional build-
these enzymes in breaking down plastics. ing materials such as cement and steel.
Through these enzymes; the recycled bot-
tles are returned into monomers usable with ♦ Furniture and Household Products: Recycled
the same quality to produce more bottles or plastic is also impressive while going into the
even other quality products. fabrication of furniture, kitchen utensils, and
other household items. Companies are turn-
Enzymatic recycling has its advantages over the ing the waste plastics into fashionable and
regular recycling techniques that were earlier useful products; thus helping to fight the
discussed, including ability of recycling plastics problem of plastic waste.
with less dangerous products. Moreover, no heat ♦ Automobile Parts: PVC waste is becoming
is produced in the process that is why enzymatic popular within the automotive industry. Au-
processes are rather effective, as they develop tomobile makers are also benefitting from
at comparatively low temperatures. the recycling of plastics by using the reus-
3. Upcycled Plastic Products able plastics to create auto components in-
cluding dashboards, bumpers and interior
Another impressive feature of the upcycling of trims.
plastics is that plastics are transformed into valu-
able products using the waste. Many firms and In the accruing list of examples of upcycled plas-
emerging ventures from different corners of the tic, it is evident that the material can indeed take
globe are using the latest technologies to recy- over several other materials in almost every sec-
cle waste plastic into valuable products. Some tor.
examples include:
4. 3D Printing with Recycled Plastics
♦ Upcycled Fashion: A number of fashion play-
ers are employing upcycled plastic bottles, 3D printing technology has seen immense use
bags, and other wastes in its clothing and in recent past, and now it going even further to
recycle plastics. By employing the use of post-
December 2024 PLASTICS NEWS 61
