Americas Styrenics’ Jon Timbers, left, talks during the opening session of the 2019 Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show.
Executives from large resin makers say circular economy principles are key to their companies’ long-term viability. Putting such a strategy into action will be no easy task, however.
Resin and packaging giants last week committed $1 billion over the next five years to “end plastic waste.” While recycling and sustainability stakeholders say they are encouraged by the effort, they also want to ensure materials recovery remains part of the solution.
Envision Plastics has had success integrating marine plastics into the supply chain. But if more brand owners don’t step up to purchase the material, the whole effort may have to scale back, an executive at the reclaimer said.
Global brand companies are among those that signed a commitment to publicly report their progress toward ensuring plastic products are recyclable and actually recovered.
Congress has passed a bill reauthorizing a marine debris program. The legislation also asks President Trump to work with other countries on international waste management solutions.
A plastic litter collection project will identify the brands whose products appear most often as improperly disposed waste.
A German manufacturer of electronics and appliances reported it is using recycled plastics, including nylon from fishing nets, in a number of products.
Sheet obtained from marine plastics to test their recyclability.
Spanish fishermen have pulled a sample of nearly 1,800 pounds of marine litter from the ocean. Now, researchers are working to see what kinds of products the recovered material could be recycled into.
A Norwegian proposal that aims to combat marine debris could close the door to certain export markets for U.S. recycling companies.
