Climate impact of circular plastics

In 2023, CE Delft was commissioned by NRK Recycling to assess the climate benefits of mechanical recycling of plastic. This study calculated the climate impact of various types of recyclate (rPET, rHDPE, rPP, r(L)LDPE, rPVC, rPS and rABS) and how this compares to the climate impact of virgin plastic.

In addition to mechanical recycling, the chemical recycling of plastics is also expanding as new techniques are being developed and/or scaled up. In this study, we have therefore included the climate impact of chemical recycling techniques based on current studies. We have updated the climate impact of mechanical recyclate based on more recent studies. Finally, we have also included the climate impact of bio-based plastics in this report.

Based on the collected data, CE Delft concludes:

• Plastics made from recycled materials have a significantly lower climate impact than fossil-based plastics. An exception to this is chemical recycling by pyrolysis for PE and PP. This has a higher climate impact than fossil-based plastic, partly because part of the feedstock (the plastic waste) is burned in the pyrolysis process.
• Mechanical recycling and short-chain chemical recycling (dissolution and depolymerisation) have the lowest climate impact and highest plastic-to-plastic yields. These techniques have been or are being developed for the processing of various waste streams and produce a recyclate with different properties. Mechanical and short-chain chemical recycling therefore complement each other well. Studies of the processing of specific waste streams can determine the most suitable recycling option.
• Biobased plastics often have a lower climate impact than primary fossil-based plastics, but this is not always the case. The lower climate impact is due to the fact that CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere during the growth of biomass (e.g. sugar cane). Biobased plastics encompass a range of biomass types and production techniques, and the methods used to calculate their climate impact vary. In order to calculate the climate impact of one type of bio-based plastic, the specific chain must be examined. Other environmental aspects also play a role, such as land and water use, the consequences of crop protection and the use of fertilisers.