Boosting recycling potential and using recycled materials offers benefits such as reduced taxes, for instance plastics packaging taxes, and can also reduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the future.
This means selecting materials that are commonly recycled at the design stage to increase the potential for both using recycled materials and for recycling at the product’s end-of-life.
Further, while combining multiple materials in plastics processing can improve a product, it may also reduce recycling potential if the materials cannot be separated. Dr. Robin Kent says instead, consider:
- Choosing compatible materials
- Using secondary materials in a volume ratio of <2%
- Designing for disassembly, if a volume ratio of <2% is not achievable
Action plan:
- Work with customers to use materials that maximize the recycling potential
- For solid products, prefer materials such as PE-HD, PP and PET and PVC that are widely recycled
- For film products, prefer materials such as PE-LD, PE-LLD, PE-HD and PP that are widely recycled
- If small amounts of other polymers must be used, opt for materials that are compatible to allow bulk recycling
- Use clear, uncolored material whenever possible
- If black or dark colors must be used, ensure a density gap of at least 0.15 g/cm3 to allow flotation separation
- Reduce non-recyclable additives such as high volumes of glass fibers or flame retardants—these can make recycling difficult or impossible (particularly those containing heavy metals)
This is the third message in our series of energy-saving tips. Twice per month, we will share some useful, actionable advise with you from leading sustainability consultant Dr. Robin Kent.
Visit our blog for twice-monthly posts featuring practical, actionable advice for better energy management and to read more about Dr. Kent.
And for more resources, here is a full list of publications from Dr. Kent.