Page 41 - Plastics News February 2024

FEATURE

Enzyme in laundry detergent can help recycle single-use plastics in

24 hours: Study
Scientists have developed a novel single molecules—the materials can ers, current methods of bioplastics
method that uses enzymes found in be turned into equally high-quality production are costly and compete
laundry detergents for recycling sin- plastic for multiple reuse, according with food-based agriculture for use of
gle-use bioplastics in disposable items to the researchers. land, the researchers said.
such as coffee cups and food contain- Current rates of plastic production Mechanical recycling methods are in-
ers. The method, described in the outstrip our ability to dispose of it sus- efficient, generate CO2 and are inca-
journal Cell Reports Physical Science, tainably, they said. pable of producing high-quality reus-
uses the enzymes to "depolymer- able materials, they said.
ise"—or break down—landfill-bound According to non-profit Environmen-
bioplastics into soluble fragments tal Action, it is estimated that in 2023 These "green" plastics primarily end
within just 24 hours. alone more than 68 million tonnes of up in landfill after just one use, caus-
plastic globally ended up in natural ing many retailers to revert to using
The process achieves full degrada- environments due to the imbalance oil and fossil-based materials.
tion of the bioplastic polylactic acid between the huge volumes of plastics
(PLA) in an approach that is 84 times produced and our current capacity to The speed at which the bioplastics
faster than the 12-week-long indus- manage and recycle plastic at the end break down using this new method
trial composting process used for of its life. could revolutionise plastic produc-
recycling bioplastic materials, the re- tion, offering an efficient, scalable and
searchers said. A recent Organisation for Econom- sustainable blueprint for recycling sin-
ic Co-operation and Development gle-use bioplastics, according to the
The research offers a widespread (OECD) report predicted that the researchers.
recycling solution for single-use PLA amount of plastic waste produced
plastics, as the scientists at King's Col- worldwide is on track to almost triple The research opens up the opportu-
lege London, UK, found that in a fur- by 2060, with around half ending up nity for a sustainable, circular econ-
ther 24 hours at a temperature of 90 in landfill and less than a fifth recycled. omy that stamps out the production
degrees Celsius, the bioplastics break of fossil-based plastics and tackles
down into their chemical building While bioplastics—derived from bio- the huge volume of plastic waste that
blocks. logical sources such as corn starch, ends up in landfill and natural environ-
cassava or sugarcane are seen as a ments, they added.
Once converted into monomers—
more sustainable choice by consum-

Recycling Innovations Reshape the Recycled Plastics Market

he rapid growth of the global artificial intelligence systems optimis- plastic segments as projected over the
Tplastics recycling market hides a ing sorting Accuracy, new technolo- next 10-20 years by leading industry
sector undergoing dramatic change. gies are evolving rapidly to handle groups like the Alliance to End Plastic
An explosion of recent innovations all more waste plastic, produce higher- Waste.
along the plastics recycling value chain quality recycled resin, open new end Recycled plastics refer to plastics that
is transforming the very foundations markets and strengthen value recov- undergo processes such as sorting,
of the industry while unlocking new ery economics. cleaning, and reprocessing to be re-
found value in used plastic.
The success of these innovations will used in various applications. Recycling
Driven by the pressing need to expand determine if recycled polymers can plastics helps mitigate environmental
recycling capacity and performance expand their footprint substantially pollution, reduce dependence on vir-
for greater circularity, these advance- across global manufacturing one day. gin plastic production, and conserve
ments promise to reshape the market As technology barriers fall, the condi- natural resources. According to Per-
landscape in the years ahead. From tions strengthen for recycled resins to sistence Market Research, the global
cutting-edge chemical processes to capture 20-50% share across major recycled plastics market is currently

PLASTICS NEWS 43
February 2024