Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2022 - 22

A responsibility
to circularity
" In the fight against
climate change and
plastic pollution, there
is immense pressure
to increase collection
rates and move from
downcycling to closed
loop recycling. "
Reflecting on the keynote issues of K 2022 - Digitalisation, climate protection and
circular economy - Jeroen Frederix of SI Group points to the responsibility of the
industry and its role in spearheading the transition to a circular economy. As he
writes: " This is no longer a trend that will go away. "
T
22
he consensus has
shifted. Over recent
years, the plastics
industry has seen an
explosion of interest in the circular
economy. As this change
has taken place, conversations
have moved away from " What is
the circular economy? " to " How
can we realistically transition
the industry toward it? " While
similar discussions have begun
taking place across several
manufacturing industries, it is
of particular importance within
plastics. As an industry with
extensive public exposure and
huge consumption, the plastics
industry must be on the frontline
of wider, global change.
As such, it is the responsibility
of industry leaders to spearhead
this transition and step up
to the challenge. It is only right
that the most capable players
drive the greatest change. By
providing products fit for purpose,
facilitating sustainability
across supply chains, and encouraging
collaboration between
businesses, the industry
will be able to look back at this
time and be proud that it drove
a fundamental shift toward a
better future.
Pushing boundaries
While plastics' versatility, low
carbon footprint, low weight,
and cost effectiveness drove
September/October 2022
their initial global popularity,
their abundance has also fostered
a negative anti-plastic
sentiment among consumers
about their environmental impact.
In Europe, nearly 50% of
the plastic waste produced is
collected back, which is a great
step forward, but still leaves
around 50% unaccounted for.
What is collected and recycled
is very often downcycled. In the
fight against climate change
and plastic pollution, there is
immense pressure to increase
collection rates and move from
downcycling to closed loop recycling.
In short, plastic lifetimes
need to increase. The resource
must transition away from being
considered a waste product to a
sustainable resource.
Reasons like this are why it
is in the interest of larger businesses
across the value chain
to take a leading role in transitioning
the plastics industry
toward a model that prevents
waste creation - such as the
circular economy. Doing so can
help to lift up the entire sector.
What's more, as consumer
awareness of issues like climate
change continues to rise up
the agenda, traditional sustainability
credentials aren't going
to be enough for businesses
anymore. The circular economy
has momentum now and businesses
can either embrace the
Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2022
