Skip to main content

Chemical recycling of plastics opens up new opportunities for circular economy

Change in climate-affecting emissions in 2030 when plastic waste is controlled from energy recovery to chemical recycling (three different alternatives) in Stenungsund.
Published Apr 07, 2021

Chemical recycling of plastic waste can contribute to the increased circularity of the entire value chain of plastic materials. Chemical recycling can also aid in mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions affiliated with the plastics materials and accelerate the transition towards more circular and sustainable use of plastics materials and products. A complex value chain of plastic materials calls for technological innovation, new business models for sustainable production and consumption, and better value loss management. That is why we need to understand the variety of emerging technologies and alternatives to recycling of plastics such as chemical recycling

Results from the project Chemical Recycling for Circular Flows of Plastic Waste suggest that:

  • Pyrolysis in Stenungsund is the most advantageous alternative in 2025 if compared with pyrolysis in Stockholm and with pyrolysis in Motala. This is due to close proximity to the chemical industry infrastructure and from the perspective of overall emissions. This scenario is estimated to result in an increase in plastic circularity of about 40%.
  • Steam cracking in Stenungsund is the most advantageous alternative in 2030 from a circularity and greenhouse gas emissions perspective. The introduction of steam cracking technology could allow for almost a doubling of circularity of the plastics value chain.
  • Finding ways to steer plastic away from energy recovery and waste incineration is of central importance to all actors in the current plastic value chain.
  • Although chemical recycling opens up new opportunities for the circular economy, chemical recycling is only part of the solution for more sustainable and circular plastic use. A complete life cycle strategy is the key to determining the environmental benefits in terms of energy savings, fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Click here to read more about the project results in Swedish

Contact Maryna Henrysson( maryna.henrysson@energy.kth.se) to receive a copy of the project report. 

The report is one of the results of the project Chemical Recycling for Circular Flows of Plastic. The project has been made possible with support from Lidl and their customers through Lidl Future Initiative's call "The Plastic Challenge". Lidl's customers have contributed through a previous price increase on plastic carrier bags, one of Lidl's many initiatives to reduce plastic consumption.

Detta PM är ett av resultaten från projektet Kemisk återvinning för cirkulära strömmar av plastavfall. Projektet har möjliggjorts med stöd från Lidl och deras kunder genom Lidl Future Initiatives utlysning ”Plastutmaningen”. Lidls kunder har bidragit genom en tidigare prishöjning på plastbärkassar, ett av Lidls många initiativ för att minska konsumtionen av plast.

Belongs to: CE@KTH
Last changed: Apr 07, 2021