Future of Plastic Recycling
As a solid step
towards achieving a circular economy.
The Current Status of Plastic Recycling
According to a survey conducted in 2019, the total domestic plastic waste generation was 8.24 million tonnes a year in Japan. In addition, the "Plastic Resource Circulation Strategy" was announced by the Ministry of the Environment in the same year set a goal of reusing or recycling 60% of container packaging by 2030. Currently, the recycling rate, excluding energy recovery, remains at around 25%, indicating significant challenges in achieving the set targets.
What is Chemical Recycling?
Chemical recycling is a process of chemically breaking down used plastics into their raw materials for recycling.
It involves high-temperature decomposition, converting them into "chemical feedstocks" such as oil and basic chemical materials. This process enables the conversion and reuse of different types of plastics, even if they are mixed or slightly contaminated, resulting in the production of recycled plastics with the same quality as new ones.
Challenges of Chemical Recycling
There are three types of plastic recycling methods: "Material Recycling," "Chemical Recycling," and "Thermal Recycling." Among these, "Chemical Recycling" is considered to play an essential role in the future of plastic recycling. The "Decomposition and Depolymerization" technologies are essential for chemical recycling, and it involves following challenges:
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1. Lack of Versatility
There is a wide variety of plastics used in the world, and recycling mixed plastics is a challenge. Many existing decomposition technologies are limited to specific types of plastics, resulting in a lack of versatility.
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2. High Cost
The construction of large-scale facilities for plastic decomposition and the significant cost reduction required to achieve high yields and energy efficiency of target products are challenges in the field of plastic recycling.
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3. High CO2 Emissions
The process of decomposing plastic requires heating it to temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius, which is typically achieved by burning fossil fuels. As a result, this process generates a significant amount of CO2 emissions.
The Future of Plastic Recycling
Addressing these three challenges is PlaWave, a technology platform for chemical recycling utilizing microwaves. By harnessing renewable energy sources, it enables Green Chemical Recycling (tentative name), allowing for CO2-free and resource recovery from waste plastics.
