Remove2Reclaim

Pigmented plastics are a challenge to the recycling process. Dyed and pigmented plastics inhibit materials recovery because of their lower market value compared to clear/transparent plastics that allow to be dyed with greater flexibility. The next best thing is white, as its only limit is that it cannot become clear, but it can be turned into any other colour. 

However, recycling both the polymer and the pigment could be greatly beneficial to a circular economy.

The recycling of TiO₂ (typically used for white shades) is faced with an additional challenge. In October 2019, the European Commission has adopted the 14th adaption to technical progress of the CLP Regulation (EC 1272/2008) which effectively classifies TiO₂ as a category 2 carcinogen (by inhalation).

EU 2020/2017: the classification as a carcinogen by inhalation applies only to mixtures in powder form containing 1% or more of titanium dioxide which is in the form of or incorporated in particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm.