Page 65 - Plastic News November 2023

IN THE NEWS

Achieving 65% circular plastics by 2050 would cost an additional €235 billion

than mechanic recycling, however, reach 65% circularity and net-zero
which will reach estimated operating would require an additional €235 bil-
costs (opex) of €1,056 and €762 per lion, compared to the baseline scenar-
tonne produced by 2050, respective- io cost. The total system cost would
ly, according to analysis by Deloitte. be €3,527 billion for the circular and
Opex costs for chemical recycling net zero scenario, €3,032 billion for
are estimated to decline rapidly from the circular scenario, and €3,292 bil-
2030, starting at €2,460 per tonne in lion for the baseline scenario, accord-
2021, dropping to €1,796 in 2030, to ing to Deloitte analysis. The project-
lastics Europe has launched its €1,426 in 2040, and reaching €1,056 ed, additional average system cost per
P“Plastics Transition” roadmap in 2050. tonne of plastics is €290 in the circu-

Plastics Europe has launched its “Plas- Bioplastics are also expected to see lar-plus-net-zero scenario.
tics Transition” roadmap, marking the sharp operating cost declines, from “We are excited about the opportuni-
first time its members united around €2,839 per tonne in 2021, to €2,361 ty the Green Deal provides to create
a ‘hugely ambitious but realist plan to in 2030, to €1,884 in 2040, and reach- a thriving and competitive European
redesign the European plastics sys- ing €1,403 by 2050. Captured carbon- plastics industry that allows us to in-
tem’, the managing director of Plastics based plastics will remain the most crease investment and innovation in
Europe, Virginia Janssens, said during expensive technology to operate circularity and decarbonisation,” said
a press briefing. throughout the 2021-2050 period, Marco ten Bruggencate, President
starting at €3,029 per tonne and end- of Plastics Europe, and Dow EMEA
The roadmap provides a framework,
milestones for 2030, and indicators ing at €2,007. Fossil-fuel plastics will commercial vice president packag-
to monitor progress, identify bot- see modest operating costs declines, ing and specialty plastics. “However,
starting at €1,395 per tonne in 2021 to enable the transition we will need
tlenecks, and find solutions to keep and ending at €1,186 by 2050. That measures to safeguard the competi-
moving forward.
means both mechanically and chemi- tiveness of our industry if we are to
In terms of circularity, the roadmap cal recycled plastics will be cheaper prevent industrial activity and invest-
projects that the substitution of fos- than virgin fossil production by 2050, ments migrating out of Europe to
sil-based plastics will be gradual and with bioplastics becoming cost com- other regions, and to avoid becoming
could reach 25% in 2030 and 65% by petitive. increasingly dependent on imports of
2050. Plastics Europe predicts that 15 Significant short- and medium-term plastics which do not necessarily meet
million tonnes of those circular plas- investments will be needed to achieve EU sustainability standards.”
tics will be mechanically recycled by this cost decline, according to Plastics Bruggencate pointed out during a
2050, followed by 12 million tonnes of
chemically recycled polymers, 11 mil- Europe, flagging the need for policy press briefing that during the 1980s
support in transforming the industry Europe concentrated 33% of plastics
lion tonnes of bioplastics, and 3 million and infrastructure. Supporting the de- production, a value which has plum-
tonnes of carbon capture-based plas- velopment of all recycling technolo- meted to 14% in 2022, according to
tics. The remaining 22 million tonnes, gies, to ensure maximum availability Plastics Europe data. The roadmap
or 35%, will be fossil-based plastics.
The industry body estimates that re- of circular feedstock, will be key in says there is an urgent need to create
unlocking investments, according to a level playing field and regain Europe-
use will reduce plastics consumption Plastics Europe. The industry body an competitiveness, including by fund-
by 12 million tonnes by 2050.
also called for an urgent recognition ing a European circular plastics econ-
Chemical recycling is expected to of the mass balance, fuel exempt, allo- omy/transition; designing regulation
have its breakthrough by 2030, ac- cation model for plastic waste-based to reinvigorate the European plastics
counting for 3 million tonnes, and feedstocks. industry; and ensuring competitive
growing exponentially from there to- energy prices and making renewable
wards 2050. Operating the technol- In particular, the additional capex and energy and hydrogen accessible and
opex, or total system cost, needed to
ogy will likely remain more expensive affordable.

PLASTICS NEWS 6565
November 2023 PLASTICS NEWS