Closed loop recycling of plastic packaging: challenges and hopes

Recycling Technology

In environmental protection actions, closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging is crucial. But do you know that this crucial measure is currently facing numerous difficulties?

From a technical perspective, plastic packaging materials are becoming increasingly complex nowadays. Multilayer composite plastics stack plastics with different functions, while metal coated plastics combine the characteristics of metal and plastic, but this brings great trouble to recycling. The existing recycling technology is difficult to effectively separate them, resulting in low purity and greatly reduced performance of recycled plastics, making it difficult to meet the production needs of high-end products.

Economic and Social

The economic situation is even more severe. Plastic packaging recycling involves many aspects such as collection, transportation, sorting, and processing, each of which requires a significant investment of funds. However, the market price of recycled plastics remains low, and the profits of recycling companies are meager. Investment often has to wait for a long time to see returns, which greatly undermines the enthusiasm of companies to participate.

At the societal level, the public's awareness of closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging is generally insufficient. Many people have not developed the habit of garbage classification, and a large amount of plastic packaging waste has not entered formal recycling channels, resulting in serious littering. Moreover, the closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging involves multiple parties such as the government, enterprises, social organizations, and consumers. The cooperation among all parties is not smooth, information communication is not timely, and responsibility allocation is not clear, which hinders the efficient operation of the recycling system.

Policy and Future

In terms of policies and regulations, the relevant policies are not yet perfect and lack specific implementation details. The vague regulations on the responsibilities and obligations of plastic packaging production and recycling enterprises, insufficient supervision, and weak support policies have led to market disorder.

However, although there are many difficulties, hope is also shining. Numerous enterprises and research teams are actively investing in research and development, striving to overcome technical challenges. The government is also paying more attention and gradually improving relevant policies.

As long as each of us starts from ourselves, develops good garbage classification habits, actively pays attention to the closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging, we can contribute to the environmental protection cause, and jointly look forward to the bright future of closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging, guarding our beautiful green home.