KEARNEY

confederationofIndianIndustry

SolvingPlasticWaste:

RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

Contents

3

Forewords

7

ExecutiveSummary

9

TheRoleofPlastics:BalancingNecessityandImpact

11

PrioritizingRecyclingEfforts

15

ScalingPlasticsCircularity

27

ActionAgendaforStakeholders

28

Conclusion

Copyright?2024Kearney&ConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII).Allrightsreserved.

Withoutlimitingtherightsunderthecopyrightreserved,thispublicationoranypartofitmaynotbetranslated,reproduced,stored,transmittedinanyform(electronic,mechanical,photocopying,audiorecordingorotherwise)orcirculatedinanybindingorcoverotherthanthecoverinwhichitiscurrentlypub-lished,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofCIIandKearney.

Allinformation,ideas,views,opinions,estimates,advice,suggestions,recommendations(hereinafter‘content’)inthispublicationshouldnotbeunderstoodasprofessionaladviceinanymannerorinterpretedaspolicies,objectives,opinionsorsuggestionsofCIIandKearney.Readersareadvisedtousetheir

discretionandseekprofessionaladvicebeforetakinganyactionordecision,basedonthecontentsofthispublication.Thecontentinthispublicationhas

beenobtainedorderivedfromsourcesbelievedbyCIIandKearneytobereliablebutCIIandKearneydonotrepresentthisinformationtobeaccurateor

complete.CIIandKearneydonotassumeanyresponsibilityanddisclaimanyliabilityforanyloss,damages,causedduetoanyreasonwhatsoever,towardsanyperson(naturalorlegal)whousesthispublication.

Thispublicationcannotbesoldforconsideration,withinoroutsideIndia,withoutexpresswrittenpermissionofCIIandKearney.Violationofthisconditionofsalewillleadtocriminalandcivilprosecution.

DevelopedbyA.T.KearneyConsulting(India)PrivateLimited

19thFloor,TowerC,Building10,CyberCity,Gurugram122002India+911244090700(office)

+911244069725(fax)

Email:nilanjana.rajkhowa@Web:

PublishedbyConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII),

TheMantoshSondhiCentre;23,InstitutionalArea,LodiRoad,

NewDelhi110003,India,

T:911145771000/24629994-7Email:info@cii.in;Web:www.cii.in

2

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

3

Foreword

Aswenavigatethecomplexitiesofmodernlife,plasticsremainacornerstoneofindustrialandconsumer

applications,showcasingunparalleledversatilityandcost-effectiveness.Theirbenefitsareindisputable,rangingfromimprovinghealthcareoutcomestoenhancingtransportationefficiency.However,thisubiquityhasbroughtforthsignificantenvironmental,economic,andsocietalchallengesthatcannotbeignored.

Intoday'sworld,thechallengeofplasticwastemanagementhasemergedasacriticalissueimpactingour

environment,economies,andsocieties.Thiswhitepaper,"SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainable

Future,"addressestheurgentneedforstrategiestotacklethegrowingmenaceofplasticpollution.Italsoservesasacomprehensiveguidetounderstandingthelifecycleofplasticsandthecriticalstepsrequiredtotransition

towardacirculareconomy.

Thejourneytowardsasustainablefutureiscomplexandchallenging,butitisonewemustembarkuponwith

determinationandcollaboration.Indiahasthepotentialtosetaglobalbenchmarkinsustainableplasticwastemanagement.Byadoptingthecomprehensivestrategiesoutlinedinthisdocument,wecanleadthewaytowardacirculareconomythatbalancesthenecessityofplasticswithourenvironmentalresponsibilities.

ConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII)recognizesthepivotalrolewemustplayinleadingthetransitiontowardssustainablepracticesandpromotingacirculareconomyforplastics.

VirendraGupta

DeputyDirectorGeneral

ConfederationofIndianIndustry

4

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

Foreword

Whileplasticwasteandcircularityisglobalproblem,inIndiatheproblemisparticularlypronounced.Whilemanyothermaterialshavefoundtheirbalanceincircularity,theclockistickingforplasticwastemanagementand

itscircularitypractices.Thenation’seconomicandconsumptiongrowthisleadingtoamountingplasticwastecrisis,generating10-12millionmetrictonsannually,muchofwhichremainsuncollectedorpoorlymanaged.

Mismanagedcollectionleadstomixedplasticsrenderingthemhardtorecycleandthenendinlandfills.

Historicallythecircularityofmaterialshavebeenlefttomarginalincomegroupstosolvefortheirlivelihood.Theproblemofplasticwasteismuchmorecomplexandhenceneedstobeprioritizedandaddressedsystematically

withinnovations,increasedcapital,talentandcollaborativeeffortsbetweencivicauthorities,brandowners,processors,materialandmachineryproducersalcomingtogether.Thesocietyisthestartingpointfor

responsiblesegregationwhichinturnplasticscontributeitsbenefitsusage.

Thispaperpresentsavarietyofstepsthatcanbetakentoaddressthisissue.RecognizingIndia’sunique

challenges,itofferssolutionsacrosseveryphaseoftheplasticlifecycleforacomprehensiveactionplan.Moreimportantly,italsoemphasizestheneedforcollaborationandsupportivegovernmentregulationsascriticalforachievingasubstantivesolutiontotheplasticwastecrisis.

Poisedtobecomeamajoreconomicpower,Indiahasthepotentialtoleadbyexampleinsustainable

development.Itisimportantthatweparticipateinthismovementthroughcollectiveactiontonotonlyprotectourenvironmentbutalsosetaprecedentforothernations.

JanardhanRamanujalu

Chairman,CIIConferenceonSustainability&PlasticsVicePresident,RoARegion

SABICIPIndiaPvt.Ltd.

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

s

Foreword

Wefindourselvesatacriticaljunctureinaddressingoneofthemostpressingchallengesofourera:the

managementofplasticwaste.Integraltotheconvenienceandinnovationofmodernlife,plasticshavealso

becomeemblematicofwidespreadenvironmentaldegradationandsustainabilitychallengesworldwide.InIndia

alone,morethan10millionto12millionmetrictonsofplasticwastearegeneratedeachyear,withasignificantportionremainingunmanagedormisallocated.Thediversenatureofplasticwaste,composedofvarying

substratesandendapplications,presentsaformidablechallengetoeffectiverecyclingefforts.

Thiswhitepaperisacalltoaction—acomprehensiveroadmaptoenhanceplasticscircularitythroughouttheirlifecycle.Fromadvocating“designforrecycling”inproductinnovationtofosteringrobustwastecollection

andsortingmechanismsandadvancingmechanicalandchemicalrecyclingtechnologies—eachactionitemiscrucialtoforgeasustainablepathforward.Stringentandeffectiveenforcementofregulations,bolstering

industrycollaborationforsustainablesolutions,andinvestmentsininnovativerecyclingtechnologieswillbevitaltopioneerasustainablecirculareconomyforplastics.Weneedtobalancenecessitywithenvironmentalstewardship,ensuringacleaner,moreresilientfutureforgenerationstocome.

SudeepMaheshwari

Partner

KearneyIndia

6

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

ExecutiveSummary

Plasticsareessentialtomodernlife,offeringunparalleledversatilityandaffordabilityacrosssectors.Theircostefficiencyandexceptionalstrength-to-weightratiomakethemindispensableinawidevarietyofendapplicationsfrompackagingtoautomotiveandaerospace.However,theuncheckedproliferationofplasticwastepresentssevereenvironmental,economic,andsocietalchallenges.

Indiaannuallygenerates10millionto12millionmetrictonsofplasticwaste,muchofwhichremains

unrecoveredormismanaged.Plasticsrepresentawidevarietyofmaterialsandendapplications.Itiscritical

toprioritizeeffortstowardtherightsubstratesandapplicationstorealizethemaximumimpactandbuild

momentum.Forexample,HDPE-basedpackagingandPETmustbeprioritizedgiventheirwidespreaduse,shortusefullife,andwell-establishedrecyclinginfrastructureandtechnology.Similarly,PVCandPScanbetakenat

alaterpointgiventheirlongerlifecycles,relativelylessmaturerecyclingtechnologies,and/orsmallervolumescomparedwithothersubstrates.

Eachstepoftheplasticsvaluechainrequirescloseexaminationtoidentifyissuesanddrivepotentialsolutions:

Upstreamactivities(plasticproduction,conversionandconsumeruse):

“Designforrecycling”iskeytoenablerecycling.Examplesincludeswitchingtomono-material

designsandreducingnon-recyclablepartssuchasmetallization,coloredlabels,andadhesives.Developingthesesolutionsrequirescollaborationacrossvaluechainpartners(plasticproducers,machinemanufacturers,converters,andbrandowners)andsignificantinnovationsinproduct

designandmaterialproperties.

Alternatematerialssuchasbiodegradableplasticsandbioplasticsofferanotherpotential

solution.However,challengesassociatedwithproductcosts,functionallimitations,andfeedstocksustainabilityissuesarelikelytolimittheirscaleandadoptionovernextdecadeorso.

Midstreamactivities(collectionandsortingofplasticswaste):

Wastesegregationisamajorobstacleinunlockingthetruepotentialofrecyclingintackling

plasticwaste.InIndia,wasteisrarelyseparatedintocompost,recyclable,andtoxicwaste,whichimpedesrecyclingefforts.Raisingawarenessthroughtailoredcampaignsandcommunitygroupscanencouragehousehold-levelwasteseparation.SuccessstoriessuchasChaipeCharchain

Rishikesh,highlighttheimpactofgrassrootsinitiatives.

Incentivizinglocalcommunitiestocreateavibrantwaste-collectionteconomycanhelpfillthegapscreatedbyinefficienciesortheabsenceofmunicipalitiesandelevatethelivingstandardsofthe

informalsectorinvolvedinwasterecovery.

InvestmentsinMaterialRecoveryFacilities(MRFs)needtobeincentivizedbyenhancingthequalityandquantityoffeedstock,leveragingviablesupplychaindesignandtechnologytoavoidpilferageofhigh-qualityplasticwastetoenhanceyieldsofMRFs.Further,deriskingthereturnoninvestmentsinMRFsviacontractingmechanisms,enforcementofExtendedProducerResponsibility(EPR)etc.cangoalongway.

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

7

Downstreamactivities(recyclingofsortedwasteanduseofrecyclates):

Large-scaledeploymentofmechanicalrecycling,themostmaturerecyclingpathway,requires

financialsupportandpolicyinterventionstoestablishdemandofftakeandensureprojectviability.Inaddition,thesupplychainwillbecriticaltoensurehigh-qualityfeedstockforoptimalutilization.Further,developmentofchemicalrecyclingtechnologiesiscrucialtoalleviatingtheshortcomings

ofmechanicalrecycling.ThefocusneedstobeonpromotingR&Dtodevelopthispathway.Finally,toinspireconfidenceandencouragetheuseofrecycledplasticsinsensitiveindustries,end-to-endtraceabilityofplasticsneedstobepromoted.

Governmentregulations

ThePlasticWasteManagementRulesaimtoregulatethecountry’splasticwasteandhave

undergonemultipleamendmentstoaddressgapsandadapttoevolvingneeds.Persistent

challengesincludeinadequatepolicies,weakenforcement,andinsufficientindustrysupport.Moreneedstobedoneinareassuchasstricterenforcementthroughlocalauthorities,subsidiesand

investmentstowardecofriendlymaterials,investmentinexpansionandadvancementofrecyclingtechnologies,comprehensivedatamanagementanddata-drivendecisionmaking,andcatalyzingenhancedindustrycollaboration.

Stakeholdersmustcollaborateextensivelytotackleplasticwasteeffectively.Governmentsshould

runbroadpublicawarenesscampaigns,empowertheinformalwastesector,andincentivize

traceabilitytechnologies.Localmunicipalitiesshouldgraduallyenforcerecycledcontentquotasandadvocateforadvancedrecycling.Industriesshoulddesignproductsforrecyclability,reduceplasticuse,expandrefillableoptions,andforgestrongpartnershipsforwastemanagement.Investmentsinupcyclingandsortingtechnologies,alongwithdigitizingfeedstockmanagement,arecrucial.Theseeffortscansignificantlyenhancetherecyclingratesandpromoteasustainablecirculareconomy.

Inthiscontext,weargueforacomprehensiveinitiativetoaddressthechallengesofplastics.Thegovernment,privatesector,andcitizensmustprioritizerecycling,enhanceplasticscircularity,andfosterpublic–privatepartnershipstobalancenecessitywithenvironmentalresponsibility.

8

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

NecessityImpact

TheRoleofPlastics:Balancingand

Plasticshavebecomewovenintothefabricofourlives.Fromthemomentwewakeupuntilwelayourheadsdownatnight,weencounterplasticsinmyriadforms.Theirversatilityandaffordabilityhavefueledwidespreaduseacrossnumerousapplications.Inpackaging,theirlightweightdesignallowsforefficienttransportation

andstorage.Withinelectronicsandappliances,plasticsactasinsulators,safeguardingdelicatecircuitry.

Forconstructionandinfrastructure,theyofferadvantagessuchasdurability,corrosionresistance,andcost-effectiveness.Thehealthcareindustryleveragestheirsterileandnon-reactivepropertiestoprioritizepatientsafety.

Plasticshaveextendedtheirreachbeyondthesesectors.Theycontributetofuelefficiencyintransportationbyreducingvehicleweight.Thefashionandtextileindustriesutilizethemfortheirabilitytocreatestretchy,durable,andvibrantlycoloredfabrics.Eveninenvironmentalapplications,plasticmulchinagriculturehelpsconserve

waterandsuppressweeds.Oceancleanupeffortsoftenrelyonplastic-basedmaterialstocollectmarinedebris.

Inessence,plasticshavebecomeanessentialpartofourdailyroutines,offeringauniquecombinationofversatility,affordability,andfunctionality.

ApplicationsofplasticsinIndia(inmillionmetrictons)asofFY2023hasbeenshownbelow:

6.96.52.20.43.0

2%

9%

13%

14%

12%

11%

4%

2%

2%

5%

33%

89%

19%

70%

44%

37%

0%7%

2%

39%

14%

56%

3%

9%

PEPPPETPSPVC

Note:*sumofPE,PP,PET,PSandPVC,whichaccountfor~90%ofIndia’sdemand.

Source:Plastindiafoundation,Kearney

19

10%

4%

21%

1%」

3%

16%

45%

Total*

Others

Transport

Building&constructionIndustrymachinery

Electricalandelectornics

Consumerand

institutionalproducts

Packaging

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

9

Comparedwithglassandmetals,plasticofferssignificantcostadvantages.Specifically,theproductioncostsofplasticareapproximately20to30%lowerthanglassandover30%lowerthanmetals.Newprocessing

technologiesareconstantlyrefiningplasticproduction.Theseadvancementsallowforshapingplasticproducts

withlessheatandinashortertime,significantlyreducingenergyconsumption.Incomparisontoglass

production,whichrequireshightemperaturesforextendedperiods,plasticsofferamorestreamlinedandenergy-efficientmanufacturingprocess.

Akeystrengthofplasticsliesintheirexceptionalbalanceofstrengthandweight,makingthemidealfor

applicationswhereweightisamajorconcern,suchasintheaerospaceandautomotiveindustries.Their

lightweightnaturetranslatestobetterfuelefficiencyandoverallenergysavings.Thisadvantagepositions

plasticsfavorablycomparedwithmetals.Furthermore,plasticsboastimpressivedurability.Theycanendureharshenvironmentsandresistcorrosion,makingthemwell-suitedforlong-lastingperformanceindemandingfieldssuchasmarineapplicationsandchemicalprocessing.

Whileplasticsoffernumerousbenefits,theworldfacesagrowingproblemwithplasticwaste.Everyyear,wegenerateanenormousamount,exceeding350millionmetrictons.Unlesssignificantchangesaremade,thisnumberisprojectedtotripleby2060,reachingastaggeringonebillionmetrictons.Indiagenerates10millionto12millionMTofplasticwasteeveryyear—mostofwhicheitherendsupinalandfillorleaksouttothe

environment,causingasignificantenvironmental,societal,andeconomicimpact.

EnvironmentalImpact

Plasticpackagingimposesheftyenvironmentalandeconomiccosts,estimatedbytheUnited

NationsEnvironmentProgrammetobearoundUSD40billion.Withplasticusagecontinuingto

growunderabusiness-as-usualscenario,thesecostsareexpectedtoincreasesubstantially.Everyyear,atleast8milliontonsofplasticendupintheoceanglobally,equatingtoonegarbagetruck’sworthofplasticbeingdumpedeveryminute.Withoutintervention,thisratecoulddoubleby2030

andquadrupleby2050.Researchsuggeststhatplasticpackagingisamajorcontributortothis

oceanicplasticpollution,leadingtomarinelifedisruption.Currently,over150milliontonsofplasticintheoceans,andprojectionsindicatethatby2025,therewillbeonetonofplasticforeverythreetonsoffish,potentiallysurpassingtheweightoffishby2050.

EconomicImpact

Themismanagementofplasticwasteisescalatingthecostsofresponsiblewastedisposal.Thefinancialstrainofcleaningupplasticpollution,repairingdamagedinfrastructure,andaddressingthehealthimpactsissignificantandgrowing.InIndia,landfills—similartoopendumpsused

worldwide—aretheprimarywastedisposalmethod,withplasticwasteconstitutingabout

6%oflandfillcontent.Thecountrylacksaneffectivewastemanagementsystem,leadingto

mostplasticwasteendingupinapproximately1,700landfillsnationwide.Theaveragecostof

managingthiswasterangesfromRs.500toRs.1,500perton,acrosscollection,transportation,

andbasictreatmentbeforedisposal.Additionally,thehealthimpactsofplasticpollution,suchas

respiratoryissuesandcancerfromopenburning,contributetorisinghealthcarecostsandreducedproductivity.

SocietalImpact

Plasticwastepresentssignificantsocietalhealthrisksthroughmultiplechannels.Chemical

additivesinplastics,suchasphthalatesandBisphenolA,canleachintotheenvironment,causingendocrinedisruptionanddevelopmentalproblems.Microplastics,formedfromthebreakdown

oflargerplasticitems,canenterthefoodchainandposepotentiallong-termhealthrisks.Toxicpollutantsfromburningplasticwastecontributetorespiratoryandcardiovasculardiseases.

Improperdisposalcreatesphysicalhazardsandbreedinggroundsfordiseasevectors,while

contaminationfromplasticfoodpackagingaddsfurtherhealthrisks.Additionally,plasticpollutiondisruptsmarineecosystemsandaffectshumanfoodsources,underscoringtheurgentneedfor

improvedwastemanagementandreducedplasticuse.

10

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

PrioritizingRecyclingEfforts

Itisirrefutablethatthe10millionto12millionmetrictonsofplasticwastegeneratedinIndiaannuallywillhaveadverseimpacts.Theproblemisexacerbatedbythediversityoftheseplastics,eachwithvaryingproperties,segregationability,recyclingrequirements,andusefullife.Someplasticsre-enterthesystemwithinmonths

ofproduction,whileotherstakedecades.Tacklingallthedifferenttypesofplasticssimultaneouslywouldbeexpensive,inefficient,andineffective.Instead,amoretargetedapproachshouldfocusonplasticsthathaveshortlifespansandrepresentlargervolumesandwhoserecyclingchallengeshavenotbeensolved.

Therearesevenkeyplasticsubstrateswidelyused:

PVC

Polyvinylchloride

PS

Polystyrene

HDPE

High-densitypolyethylene

LDPE

Low-densitypolyethylene

PET

Polyethyleneterephthalate

PP

Polypropylene

LLDPE

Linearlow-densitypolyethylene

ScalingupsustainabilitysolutionsforHDPEandPETmustbeprioritizedgiventhattheyaccountforlarge

volumesandarerelativelyeasytorecyclewithwell-establishedrecyclinginfrastructureandtechnology.LLDPEandLDPE,usedinfilmsandbags,oftenfacecontaminationissuesandaredesignedasmulti-materiallayers.

Theywillrequirespecializedcollectionprogramsandadvancedrecyclingtechnologiestoimproverecycling

rates.PPisoneofthemostpopularplasticpackagingmaterials,andmostPPisdisposedinlandfillsdueto

competitionwithcheapervirginfeedstock.EnsuringfinancialviabilityisimperativetopromoterecyclingofPP,especiallyPPfilmsinretailandtextileandPPconsumerdurables.PVCandPSrecyclingcanbedeprioritizedinshorttermtofocusonothersubstrateswithlargerfootprintandshorterusefullives.

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

11

RecyclePrioritizationMatrix

Sizeofthebubblerepresentsthedemandofsubstrate(InMΜΤΡΑ)

High

Propensityforrecycling

Indicatedbythefeasibilityofsubstratetoberecycled

Low

Pick&ChoosePrioritizescaleup

PETbottlegrade

HDPEBMcontainers

HDPEretailpackagingfilms

HDPEpipes

LDPEfilms

PPIMconsumerproducts&auto

PETfilms

LLDPEfilms

PVCwiresandcables

PVCpipes

PPraffiabags

PSconsumerdurable

Deprioritize

PPfilmsinretail&textile

Investinsolutions

High

Low

Lifecycle

Indicatedbyno.oryearsfromproductiontodisposal

Source:Kearney

12

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

Detailsofeachsubstrateandtheissuesfacedinrecyclingaredetailedbelow.

EaseofRecyclability

High

Low

Moderate

Substrate

Application

Approxannual

demand(KTPA)

Typicallifeinyears

Plasticproduct

designandusage

Supplychain

considerations

Recyclingtechavailabilityandadoption

HDPE

Retail

packagingfilms

1,300

<1

Designedforrecyclingbutcontamination

(especiallyoil)hindersrecyclability

Infrastructureunder

development

Availablewithmoderate

adoptionduetodesignissues

HDPE

Pipes

700

10to20

Highlyrecyclable

butcontamination

andseparationfromconstructiondebrisachallenge

Lowcollection

ratesduetolackofdedicated

collectionsystemandscattereduse

Mechanical

recyclingwell-established

HDPE

Blow-

molded(BM)containers

1,000

<2

Designedforrecycling;labelsandresidual

contentcause

contamination

Well-developed

collection

andrecyclinginfrastructure

Definedpathwaysviamechanical

recycling

LLDPE

Films(FMCGandretail)

1,900

1–2

Multi-layeringandcontaminationisanissue

Lacksefficient

collectionsystem;sortingfrom

mixedwaste

streamisalsoachallenge

Flexibility

andmixed

wastecreate

difficultytowardmechanical

recycling;

chemicalrecyclingiskey

LDPE

Films(FMCGandretail)

600

<1

Designedforrecyclingastheyaremostly

monomaterial

PVC

Pipes

2,200

15

Toxicityconcernsduetoadditivessuchas

plasticizers,stabilizersandpigments

Effective

separationfromconstruction

debrisislaborintensiveand

collectionis

challengingduetofragmenteduse

Limitedrecyclingusingmechanicalroute

PVC

Wireandcables

300

20

PET

FilmsinFMCG

900

~1

Multi-layeringand

contaminationisissue

Lacksefficient

collectionsystem;sortingfrom

mixedwaste

streamsisalsoachallenge

Mechanical

recyclingis

availablebutnot

scaled

PET

PETbottlegrade

1,300

<1

Designedforrecycling,andwidelyaccepted

inrecyclingsystems

Robustcollectionsystemsarein

place,especiallyforbottle-gradePET

Mechanical

recyclingoffersthelowestcostandlowest

emissionpathway

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

13

Substrate

Application

Approxannual

demand(KTPA)

Typicallifeinyears

Plasticproduct

designandusage

Supplychain

considerations

Recyclingtechavailabilityandadoption

PP

Raffiabags

2,400

<2

Multi-layering,

re-enforcements

suchaszippers,

stitchingthreadsandcontaminationhinderrecyclability

Fragmentedusemakescollectionchallenging

Degradationin

qualityduring

recyclingand

availabilityof

cheapervirginPPrendersrecyclingunviable

PP

Injection

molded(IM)consumer

productsandauto

2,000

5–10

Productsnotdesignedwithdisassemblyandrecyclinginmind.

Disposedthroughinformalrecyclingsectors,despiteautosectorbeingorganized

Mechanical

recyclingfacilitiesareavailable,butthecapacityis

limited

PP

Filmsinretailandtextiles

1,400

~1

Notdesignedfor

recycling,majorlyduetocontaminationandmulti-layering

Efficientcollectionandcleaning

systemsarenotavailable

Mechanical

recyclingforcleanfilmsisavailable;chemicalrecyclingisbeingexploredforcontaminated/mixedwaste

PS

Consumerdurables

300

15+

Oftennotdesignedforrecycling,usuallycombinedwithothermaterials

Collection

systemsfor

durablegoodsareunderdeveloped

Limited

commercialscaleforchemical

andmechanicalrecycling

14

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

KEARNEY

ScalingPlasticsCircularity

Scalingofplasticscircularityrequiresrobustsolutionsacrosstheentireplasticsvaluechain,fromupstream

(plasticproduction,conversion,andconsumeruse)tomidstream(collectionandsegregationofplasticwaste)

anddownstream(recyclingandtheuseofrecycledplastics).Regulatorysupportisakeyenablertocatalyzethisvaluechain

(Upstream)

PlasticProduction,Conversion&

ConsumerUse

1A

DesignforRecycling

1B

Useof

Bioplastics

(Downstream)

3D

Upcycling

Recycling

&Post

RecycleUse

3A

Scaleup

MechanicalRecycling

3B

Adoptionof

ChemicalRecycling

3C

SupplyChainTraceability

ScalingPlasticsCircularity

Collection

&

Sorting

(Midstream)

2A

ConsumerEducation

2B

Incentivizinglocalcommunity

engagement

2C

Investmentsin

MaterialRecoveryFacilities(MRFs)

4

GovernmentRegulationsandSupport

KEARNEY

SolvingPlasticWaste:RoadmapforaSustainableFuture

1s

1A.DesignforRecycling

Today’splasticproductsmustmeetvariousfunctionalrequirements,suchasprotectingtheproduct,ensuring

longshelflife,andmaintaininglowweight.Thepreferenceformulti-layerandmixedpolymermaterialshas

increasedduetotheirabilitytom