When managed correctly, plastics are not waste but a strategic resource. Situated at the heart of the circular economy, plastics play a major role in protecting natural resources, reducing dependency on raw materials, and ensuring sustainable development. Next-generation advancements in recycling technologies are redefining the future of plastic.
In past issues of PLASFED Magazine, we have emphasized many times how vital it is for our country to sort plastic waste at the source and recycle it… Curious readers can find these emphases 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 outcome of petrochemistry, the most important tool of global development. And they will continue to be… This approach underlies our statement that “Petroleum is too valuable a resource to be consumed by burning 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 humanity has consumed since 1900. During the same period, the volume of discussions, policy negotiations, and academic studies on the circular economy has nearly tripled. This increase shows that the concept of a circular economy has shifted from being an environmental approach to becoming a global trend. World Bank data shows that over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste are generated globally each year. If current trends continue, this amount is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050.
Where do plastics fit in this picture?
Undoubtedly, they are among the most visible and controversial topics. Only 10 percent of the plastics produced today can be recycled. While 18 to 20 percent are incinerated for energy recovery, 40 percent are disposed of in landfills. The rate of plastics uncontrollably entering nature 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 for food security and human health. The pressure on resources and the growth of the waste problem make the circular economy not just an environmental choice, but an economic necessity. Rising raw material costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the energy crisis require rethinking efficiency and resource usage in production processes.
While the circular model offers companies the opportunity to reduce costs, decrease resource dependency, and develop new business models, for cities and societies, it means less waste, a cleaner environment, and more resilient local economies. 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, reusing, and supporting recycling provide significant contributions at the individual level.
Recycling processes can be rewritten
As the plastics industry, the recycling systems we have been accustomed to until today have entered the literature as “mechanical recycling.” Known methods are defined as sorting, melting, and re-granulating plastic waste at the source. However, quality decreases slightly with every melting process. New technological developments in the world show that recycling processes will essentially be rewritten. Accordingly, current chemical recycling technologies do not melt plastic but break its chemical bonds to separate it into its basic building blocks. In other words, plastic can return to the raw material form it was first produced in and can be used over and over again with almost no loss of quality.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.