On the challenge of recycling massively used polymer based packaging

FEDERICO MORALES; GABRIELA CAMPOS ; MARIA ALEJANDRA COSTANTINO; CAREN ROSALES; PETTARIN VALERIA

Material and Energy Recovery from Solid Waste for Circular Economy

Taylor & Francis

Año: 2022;

Since the industrial introduction of plastic materials, their use has been constantly increasing worldwide. Due to the wide versatility and properties of plastics, they have replaced many other materials, such as glass, in food and cosmetic packaging. However, the marked growth has not been accompanied by an adequate recovery and recycling plan, currently leading to a large volume of garbage and no adequate solutions for the mismanaged plastic waste. Packaging represents the largest fraction of plastic waste worldwide, and when discarded, plastics maintain their properties unaltered, being in principle suitable for recycling. Currently, mechanical recycling schemes are mainly focused on the recovery of rigid packaging, while for flexible packaging, recycling rates remain very low. Recycling routes for post-consumer plastic fractions that are technologically and economically feasible remain a challenge. This fact has generated a negative view of these materials, overshadowing the positive impact that they provide due to their numerous advantages in terms of low cost and products’ protection. Through this chapter, the current situation, problems and future challenges of recycling rigid and flexible packaging are discussed.