Why Is Recycled Plastic Sustainable?
(Source Credits: Plastics For Change)
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most critical environmental challenges of the 21st century. The scale of the problem is staggering: every year, we produce over 380 million tons of plastic, with only 9% being recycled. The rest accumulates in landfills, litters our landscapes, and chokes our oceans. By 2050, it's estimated there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight. Microplastics are now ubiquitous, found from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the peak of Mount Everest. A 2019 study estimated that the average person ingests about 5 grams of plastic every week. The environmental and health implications of this crisis are profound, threatening ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. But amidst this grim reality, a paradigm shift is emerging.
The Circular Economy offers a transformative approach to our plastic problem. Unlike the linear “take-make-dispose” model, a circular economy aims to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
Key principles of a circular plastic economy include:
Design for recyclability: Creating products with their end-of-life in mind.
Improved collection and sorting: Enhancing infrastructure to increase recycling rates.
Scaling up recycling capacity: Investing in technologies to process more types of plastic.
Creating market demand: Encouraging the use of recycled plastics in new products.
Policy support: Implementing regulations that favour circular practices.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that applying circular economy principles could reduce the volume of plastics entering our oceans by over 80% and save $200 billion per year.
Recycled Plastic: A Sustainable Solution
(Source Credits: Plastics For Change)
Within this circular model, recycled plastic emerges as a crucial solution. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for sustainability:
1. Waste Reduction:
Every ton of recycled plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.
2. Resource Conservation:
Recycling one ton of plastic saves 5,774 Kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil, 98 million BTUs of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.
Using recycled plastic to make new bottles uses 75% less energy than creating bottles from virgin plastic.
3. Carbon Footprint Reduction:
Recycling plastic saves 3.8 barrels of crude oil and 5,774 Kwh of energy for every ton recycled.
A 2018 study found that increasing the global recycling rate for plastic packaging from 14% to 70% would reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5 million tons per year.
4. Economic Opportunities:
The global plastic recycling market size was valued at $43.73 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $65.3 billion by 2026.
In the US, the recycling industry generates over $200 billion in economic activity annually and employs over 1.25 million people.
5. Versatility:
Recycled plastic is being used innovatively across industries. For instance, major sportswear brands now produce shoes made from ocean plastic, with one company (Adidas) producing over 15 million pairs in 2020 alone.
6. Ocean Protection:
If current trends continue, by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight.
Increasing recycling rates can significantly reduce this projection. For every 1% increase in recycling rates, 1.5 million metric tons of plastic are prevented from entering the ocean over 20 years.
7. Technological Advancements:
Innovations like chemical recycling are expanding recycling capabilities. This technology could increase plastic packaging recycling rates in Europe from 42% to 70% by 2030.
The Path Forward:
While recycled plastic offers immense potential, realising this potential requires collective action:
Consumers: By 2025, 50% of consumers are projected to pay attention to sustainability and environmental responsibility in packaging.
Businesses: Over 500 organisations have signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, pledging to increase recycled content in their packaging.
Governments: More than 60 countries have introduced bans and levies to curb single-use plastic waste.
The transition to a circular plastic economy is not just an environmental imperative but an economic opportunity. By reimagining our relationship with plastic, we can turn a global crisis into a catalyst for innovation, sustainability, and positive change.
As we stand at this critical juncture, the choice is clear: continue down the path of unsustainable consumption, or embrace solutions like recycled plastic to create a more sustainable, circular future. The health of our planet and the legacy we leave for future generations hang in the balance.