Page 46 - Plastics News September 2026
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FEATURE NEWS
the most challenging types of plastics, such as
multilayer packaging and mixed plastic waste.
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), one of the
country’s largest state-owned oil and gas com-
panies, has entered the field of chemical recy-
cling. In 2020, IOC launched a pilot project aimed
at converting waste plastics into synthetic crude
oil through a process called pyrolysis. This ap-
proach offers a potential solution for converting
if it is ecologically most beneficial, technologi- plastic waste into fuel, which can then be refined
cally possible, and economically attractive. Plas- and used for energy. If successful, such initia-
tic waste is collected and recovered from any tives could reduce plastic waste while providing
post-consumer waste stream, including residual a sustainable energy source.
mixed waste. The recovered plastic is processed Upcycling: Turning Trash into Treasure
with extensive pre-sorting and purification steps
to ensure high-quality results. Upcycling is another game-changing approach
being used in India to address plastic waste.
Advanced mechanical recycling is a revolution- Rather than breaking down plastic into its raw
ary new technique that transforms household components, upcycling involves transforming
plastic waste into high-quality recycled plastic waste plastic into new, higher-value products.
content. It is an energy-efficient method of plas- This innovative process not only reduces waste
tic recycling. Unlike chemical recycling or plastic but also creates new markets for recycled ma-
pyrolysis, it requires far less energy and has a terials.
smaller ecological footprint.
There are many well-known examples of upcy-
Advanced mechanical recycling includes: De- cling in India, that takes discarded plastic and re-
contamination and label removal, Flake sorting purposes it into products like furniture, clothes,
into polymer types and colour groups, Deodori- construction materials- bricks, tiles, pavers to
zation, Extrusion and pelletizing. name some and even art among others. These
products are used across sectors, providing a
Chemical Recycling: A Breakthrough Approach
sustainable alternative to traditional raw materi-
One of the most promising innovations in post- als.
consumer plastic recycling in India comes from
chemical recycling. Unlike traditional mechani- Plastic waste that would otherwise fill landfills is
cal recycling, which can only process a limited now being used to build homes and public in-
range of plastics, chemical recycling breaks frastructure as well. Such innovative process has
down plastics into their original chemical com- gained significant traction, particularly in urban
ponents, allowing them to be reused to produce areas where the demand for affordable, eco-
new plastic of the same quality as virgin material. friendly housing solutions is growing. Similarly,
This technology enables the recycling of even there are enterprises upcycling plastic waste
50 PLASTICS NEWS September 2026
