Page 41 - Plastics News March 2025
P. 41
FEATURE NEWS
The process of chemical recycling emerges as ciples to children so they develop sustainable
an exceptional solution because it returns plastic habits for life.
materials to their core building elements so they
can maintain their quality thus retaining usability. 5. Government Regulations and Incentives
2. Biodegradable and Bio-based Plastics Government institutions can establish stronger
plastic waste controls through sustainable prac-
Scientists are conducting promising studies tice subsidies.
about bio-plastics which are produced from
algae and corn together with other organic in- Reforced single-use plastic restrictions create
gredients. Sustainable materials serve as viable opportunities for business development of reus-
replacements for products that replace the use able alternatives.
of fossil fuels. Their widespread commercial Acceptable tax benefits for enterprises that
adoption faces two major hurdles that affect adopt circular economy operations help speed
their market readiness because of production up market acceptance standards.
expenses and operational constraints.
Case Studies: Success Stories in Circular Plas-
3. Producer Responsibility and Circular Busi- tics
ness Models
Many organizations together with governmental
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Manu- bodies have adopted successful strategies for
facturers should face complete ownership of circular plastic management.
their product life cycles by having duties to sup-
port recycling and disposal. Unilever’s Plastic Reduction Commitment:
Circular business models: T The reduction of Unilever declared that the company aims to min-
waste takes place through commercial ventures imize its total virgin plastic consumption by 50%
focused on leasing and reusable packaging while throughout 2025.
offering cash incentives to users for returning
products. The sale of cosmetics and detergents The company will establish refill stations through-
in refillable bottles by some brands helps lower out their operations to promote the adoption of
substantial plastic waste amounts. recycled plastics.
4. Consumer Education and Behavioral Change Loop by TerraCycle:
Recognition programs can train people to dis- An online grocery platform enables purchase of
card plastic materials properly. zero-waste products which are delivered within
reusable containers thus diminishing the need
Companies and governments should use dis- for individual packaging material.
counts for packaging returns to stimulate in-
volvement from citizens. Norway’s Bottle Recycling Scheme:
The implementation of depot-return networks
Community organizations together with edu-
cation facilities should teach sustainability prin- during which customers receive financial incen-
tives for recycled plastic bottles has given rise to
March 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 41
