Contemplating Plastic: Exploring Possible Routes of Action
In an era when plastic is considered a wicked problem due to its environmental, economic, and political issues, innovative solutions are being developed to tackle this global challenge. These groundbreaking technologies are not only improving the efficiency and sustainability of plastic waste recycling but also targeting hard-to-recycle waste streams and microplastics.
One such technology is enzymatic recycling, which uses genetically engineered enzymes like PETase to break down plastics like PET into reusable monomers. This method, already industrially applied by companies such as Carbios, supports near-infinite recycling cycles and is being adopted by industry leaders like L’Oréal and Citeo.
Another promising approach is chemical depolymerization, which reverses the polymerization of plastics into original monomers, making recycling possible even for contaminated or colored plastics.
Magnetic nano-adsorbents and sponge-based filters are also making waves in the field. Magnetic particles can separate microplastics from water, while innovative sponge materials from natural biomaterials absorb up to 99.9% of microplastics in water.
Artificial intelligence is also playing a significant role in plastic waste management. AI-powered detection and sorting systems, combined with infrared spectroscopy and computer vision, enable real-time identification and sorting of microplastics and other plastic wastes, improving recycling accuracy and efficiency.
Plastic-to-fuel/energy conversion technologies, such as Enerkem’s cleantech for converting urban and ocean plastics into methanol and ethanol, and mobile pyrolysis systems producing usable fuels and materials, represent sustainable waste-to-energy pathways.
Advanced mechanical recycling, with optimized cutting designs and intelligent drive systems, reduces energy consumption by up to 50%, increases throughput, and produces consistent, high-quality regrind from post-consumer plastics.
Feedstock characterization and customized recycling pathways are also crucial. Companies like Agilyx use advanced technologies to identify and characterize plastic waste for matching to appropriate recycling processes, promoting the circular economy principles.
These innovations are collectively improving the efficiency, sustainability, and scalability of plastic waste recycling, offering a promising future for a more sustainable plastic industry.
Meanwhile, the automotive industry is also embracing the use of recycled plastics. For instance, approximately 25% of the Nissan Leaf is manufactured using recycled materials, with recycled plastics used in the door panels, the dashboard, and seats. The use of lightweight plastics in the Nissan Leaf also contributes to the vehicle's fuel/energy efficiency.
Education plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of plastic waste. Teachers can use resources like the Hub, grouped into key science and teaching concepts under the topic "thinking about plastic", as starting points for context-based learning. This approach combines conceptual understanding and capabilities development, offering students opportunities to explore various topics such as science concepts, technological knowledge, socio-scientific issues, and the nature of science while learning about plastics.
Citizen science projects, such as litter surveys, provide opportunities for students to gather and interpret data about plastic use. The Sea science and plastic collection offers ideas for helping students learn more about plastic litter and the marine environment.
Thinking about how we use plastic enables students to engage with science in a real-life context and offers pathways for changing behaviours. For example, the Biopolymer Network and Barnes Plastics have developed a sustainable alternative to polystyrene named ZealaFoamTM, which is a potential solution to the wicked problem of plastic use, reuse, recycling, and disposal.
New Zealand science organizations, such as the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, have created reports and resources to help rethink plastic and promote a more sustainable future.
In conclusion, the future of plastic waste management and recycling is promising, with innovative technologies and sustainable alternatives offering a pathway towards a more circular economy. Education and citizen engagement are also crucial in addressing the issue of plastic pollution and promoting a more sustainable future.
- The educational resource Hub, focused on environmental-science and learning, offers students an opportunity to explore various topics about plastics, such as science concepts, technological knowledge, and the nature of science, thereby promoting a more sustainable future.
- In the field of education-and-self-development, citizen science projects like litter surveys and the Sea science and plastic collection provide students with hands-on experiences, fostering their understanding about climate-change, plastic pollution, and the marine environment, thereby encouraging environmental stewardship and sustainable behaviors.
