By 2025, Nestle has committed to using only recyclable plastic in its products. By the same year, L’Oreal plans to have all packaging that is refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Procter & Gamble aims to reduce its use of virgin plastic resin made from petroleum by half by 2030.
To achieve these goals, companies are promoting a new type of recycling plant called “advanced” or “chemical” recycling, which promises to recycle a wider range of products than current methods allow.
Despite the promises, advanced recycling technology is facing challenges. However, the plastics industry sees it as a potential solution to the growing global waste problem.
Traditional recycling methods involve grinding up and melting plastic waste. Advanced recycling operators claim they can break down plastic into more basic molecular building blocks and transform it into new plastic.
PureCycle Technologies, a key player in Nestlé, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble’s plastic commitments, operates a plant in Ironton, Ohio, with the capacity to process a significant amount of discarded polypropylene daily.
PureCycle has faced setbacks in recent months, including technical issues, lawsuits, and doubts about its technology. Despite these challenges, the company remains optimistic about its technology and production.
Companies like Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oréal have expressed confidence in PureCycle and its recycling capabilities.
The struggles of advanced recycling plants reflect broader issues in the industry’s attempts to keep up with the increasing plastic production worldwide.
While the industry sees chemical recycling as a potential solution, environmental groups believe that reducing plastic production would be a more effective approach.
