Trends in plastics
Circularity for plastics
In 2018, the European Union adopted a European strategy for plastics in a circular economy as a part of their action plan for a circular economy. Sustainability is the underlying motivation behind the plastics strategy with a goal of addressing how plastics are designed, used and recycled in the EU. According to the Commission, this proposal is an ambitious step in making the European plastics system more resource-efficient and drive the change from a linear to a circular system.
One of the strategies is that by 2030, all plastic packaging placed on the EU market is either reusable or can be recycled in a cost-effective manner. In this context, the Commission will look into ways of maximising the impact of new rules on Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR), and support the development of economic incentives to reward the most sustainable design choices. It will also assess the potential for setting a new recycling target for plastic packaging, similar to those put forward in 2015 for other packaging materials.
Plastic is more than its waste!
With their inherent versatility and capacity for innovation, plastics play a crucial role in a sustainable and resource-efficient economy. In the transport sector, their light weight makes them more fuel-efficient and helps reduce CO2 emissions.
In the building and construction sector, they are used to manufacture high-performance and long-lasting insulation products, window frames and piping systems that save energy and water. Plastic packaging plays an important role in ensuring food safety and reducing food waste.
Ecodesign
Ecodesign is defined by the European Environment Agency as:
the integration of environmental aspects into the product development process, by balancing ecological and economic requirements. Ecodesign considers environmental aspects at all stages of the product development process, striving for products which make the lowest possible environmental impact throughout the product life cycle.
Trends in the plastic industry
- Internet of Things and connectivity: more and more products are connected to each other or gather data to share.
- Advances in polymers and additives: new materials with specific characteristics are being developed for explicit purposes.
- Industry 4.0: machines are interconnected (inside and outside the factory) allowing to achieve an even higher level of efficiency.
- Global plastic production continues to grow: The demand for plastic products continues to grow on an annual basis. With innovative solutions in design and materials, it is possible to replace all kinds of metals in more and more finished products with plastic.
- Lightweight plastics: major industries such as the automotive industry are moving from steel to plastic for certain applications. That also improves sustainability, because lighter cars use less fuel.
- Automation improves reliability when managing production and assembly processes. The use of robots results in a faster, more accurate and more agile production process, which in turn leads to an increased production output and more efficiency.
- Recycle-proof design: the circular economy is becoming a major factor in the plastics industry. When designing a new product, it is therefore increasingly common to consider the use of recycled bioplastics, the recyclability of the design and the option of making the design recycle-proof.
- Local: A growing number of organisations look for local solutions to reduce transport costs and increase their flexibility in the supply chain. Producers build smaller production sites that can operate in a more flexible manner, which allows them to meet buyers’ demands locally.
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