When managed correctly, plastics are not waste but a strategic resource. Plastics, which are at the heart of the circular economy, play a major role in protecting natural resources, reducing dependence on raw materials, and ensuring sustainable development. Next-generation advancements in recycling technologies are redefining the future of plastic.
Şener GENÇER
Aegean Plastic Industrialists Association (EGEPLASDER)
Chairman of the Board
In past issues of PLASFED Magazine, we have emphasized many times how vital it is for our country to separate plastic waste at the source and recycle it… Curious readers can see these points in previous issues of our magazine. By "vital importance," we, of course, primarily mean the protection of natural resources and passing them on to future generations. Plastics, which are a petroleum derivative and used in the production processes of dozens of sectors, are present in every aspect of life as a miraculous result of petrochemistry, the most important tool of global development. And they will continue to be…
This approach underlies our saying, "Petroleum is too valuable a resource to be consumed by burning it in automobiles." While only 12 to 15 percent of the oil produced in the world is used in petrochemistry, the rest is consumed as refining products.
500 billion tons of consumption in 5 years
According to the "Circularity Gap Report" published in 2024 by the international independent audit firm Deloitte, approximately 500 billion tons of materials have been consumed globally in the last five years. This amount corresponds to approximately 28 percent of all materials consumed by humanity since 1900. In the same period, the volume of discussions, policy negotiations, and academic studies on the circular economy has almost tripled. This increase shows that the concept of the circular economy has moved beyond being an environmental approach and has become a global trend. World Bank data shows that more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste are produced globally each year. If current trends continue, it is understood that this amount will increase by 70 percent by 2050.
Where do plastics fit into this picture?
Undoubtedly, they are among the most visible and controversial topics. Today, only 10 percent of the plastics produced can be recycled. While 18 to 20 percent are incinerated for energy recovery, 40 percent are disposed of in landfills. The rate of plastics that mix into nature uncontrollably is over 20 percent. For instance, it is estimated that millions of tons of plastic waste reach the oceans every year. This situation creates serious risks not only for ecosystems but also in terms of food security and human health.
Resource pressure and the growing waste problem make the circular economy an economic necessity rather than just an environmental preference. Rising raw material costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the energy crisis require rethinking efficiency and resource use in production processes. While the circular model offers opportunities for companies to reduce costs, decrease resource dependence, and develop new business models, it also means less waste, a cleaner environment, and more resilient local economies for cities and societies. The success of the circular economy is not limited to large-scale policies and industrial transformation. Small steps taken in daily life are also part of this system. Consuming less, using products for longer, repairing, repurposing, and supporting recycling make significant contributions at an individual level.
Recycling processes can be rewritten
The recycling systems that we, as the plastic industry, have been accustomed to until today are documented in literature as "mechanical recycling." Known methods are defined as separating plastic waste at the source, melting it, and turning it back into granules. However, the quality decreases slightly with each melting process. New technological developments in the world show that recycling processes are almost about to be rewritten.
Accordingly, current chemical recycling technologies do not melt plastic but instead break its chemical bonds and separate it into its basic building blocks. In other words, plastic returns to the raw material form it was first produced in and can be used again and again with almost no loss of quality.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.