Page 32 - Plastics News February 2023

FEATURE

How does the plastic industry advance circularity? A deep dive into Systemiq’s
report on reducing waste

highlight is the policy enablers and
business investments in the waste
collection and sorting chain that will
create a more stable and predictable
supply of plastic waste feedstocks for
scale-up of the recycling industry.”
The report highlights two final areas
along the value chain which could po-
tentially be vital in the reduction of
plastic and packaging waste, both de-
sign and reduction/reuse of materials
in products. Dixon was particularly
keen to reference the Ellen MacArthur
The question of whether (or what) the industry can do to reduce plas- foundation’s assessment that design
tic and packaging waste is an ever-changing debate with ever-changing choices are important for reusability:
science and evidence pointing the industry in different directions. The “The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has
latest of these of these industry studies was Systemiq’s report, which described the circular economy as a
brings together over 80 published reports and research papers into “design challenge” and this definitely
the topic. applies in the case of plastics circular-

ll of these solutions need to grow When speaking of legislation there has ity. Design choices for PET packaging
Asignificantly in Europe over the been significant strides by legislative and polyester textiles makes a big dif-
next years to achieve the environ- bodies to tackle plastic and packaging ference in the reusability or recycla-
mental goals set by policy-makers and waste. The UK’s plastic packaging bility after use. For example, pigments
industry.” tax was introduced on the 1st April in bottles or multi-material blends can
make a big difference in the value of
The report also points to the fact that 2022, with the EU equivalent being in- the material for recyclers.”
the reduction or replacement of plas- troduced in the previous year. When
tic packaging in Europe is ‘not yet to asked if the legislation had gone far However, Dixon does note that there
scale’ Dixon said: “Studies have shown enough, Dixon said: “Governments should be caution with the reuse and
that switching from single-use packag- and leading businesses in Europe are reduction of single use packaging and
ing to reuse and refill models has sig- doing a lot to encourage more circu- plastics in particular: “In some cases,
nificant potential to reduce waste and lar practices. Many businesses have reduction and reuse could lead to
greenhouse gas emissions, if done in joined the Global Commitment to unintended consequences if not ap-
the right way. The draft Packaging and a New Plastics Economy or Plastic plied well (e.g. increased food waste
Packaging Waste Regulation shows Pacts which include voluntary com- if packaging is removed or increased
that there is likely to be strong policy mitments to 100% recyclable packag- material usage if durable containers
support for this transition in the next ing, reduction of unnecessary packag- are not actually reused by consum-
years. Scaling up this solution requires ing and use of recycled content. The ers).” Such unintended economic
innovative system-building efforts and EU’s draft Packaging and Packaging and social consequences need to be
collaboration by consumer brands, re- Waste Regulation and the EU Textiles carefully balanced with the need for a
tailers and service providers – which Strategy lay out ambitious policies for more circular approach.
is starting to happen in Europe.” increasing circularity in Europe.
“One key missing element we often

34 PLASTICS NEWS February 2023