Page 43 - Plastics News September 2024
P. 43
FEATURE NEWS
alisation: Jaydev SD et al. Nature Chemical Engi- is best stirred using an impeller with blades par-
neering 2024, modified allel to the axis. Compared to a propeller with
angled blades or a turbine-shaped stirrer, this
“The molten plastic is a thousand times thicker results in more even mixing and fewer flow vor-
than honey. The key is how you stir it in the tank tices. The stirring speed is equally crucial. It must
to ensure the catalyst powder and hydrogen be neither too slow nor too fast; the ideal speed
get mixed right through,” explains Antonio José is close to 1,000 revolutions per minute.
Martín, a scientist in Pérez-Ramírez’s group.
Through experiments and computer simulations, Source – Recycling Magazine
the research team demonstrated that the plastic
How the manufacturing sector is tackling waste
UK, has offered some industry-level insight into
how the industry is working to mitigate waste
production.
Reduction of single-use plastic
Plastic has become the most common man-
made material produced, accounting for more
than 380 million tonnes globally per year. De-
spite these huge amounts, a study from the El-
len MacArthur Foundation and the World Eco-
he manufacturing sector is a huge con-
tributor to waste in the UK, with the UK nomic Forum found that only 14% of all plastic
Tgovernment estimating that in 2020, it packaging is collected for recycling.
generated around 40.4 million tonnes of com- This can be difficult for manufacturers as it filters
mercial and industrial waste.
throughout the supply chain, but there is plenty
that can be done to better your own company’s
This is an outstanding amount of waste pro-
duced, particularly with Plastics Europe finding standing. One way to do this is to reevaluate
that the annual waste production equates to al- your packaging use. You may discover that you
most 8.9 million tonnes. can reuse clean packaging materials, use recy-
cled and recyclable materials, or even reduce
With this significant amount having a huge im- the amount of packaging required to reduce
pact on the environment, a high priority for the waste.
sector is managing the waste and reducing the
annual levels created. Scott Hawthorne from As increased focus is placed on finding alterna-
Skips & Bins, a leading provider of skip hire in the tives to single-use plastics, many manufacturers
PL
September 2024
September 2024 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS 43 45
