The landscape of chemical recycling has evolved as society continues to address the environmental impact of excessive waste. Traditional recycling methods face limitations in sorting and processing mixed materials, degradation of certain recyclables, and limited recyclability of certain plastics.
Chemical recycling, on the other hand, allows for the creation of high-quality materials, which helps to overcome certain limitations that are typically associated with using recycled materials repeatedly.
It is gaining prominence and rapid development through innovative solutions to global plastic waste. Plastics Europe reports that there has been a significant increase in planned chemical recycling investment, from EUR 2.6 billion in 2025 to EUR 8 billion in 2030.
The Science Behind Chemical Recycling
Chemical recycling helps solve the issues of downcycling and degradation that come with traditional recycling methods. Unlike mechanical recycling, which involves melting and reshaping plastics, chemical recycling breaks complex polymers into their molecular components (monomers).
There are three steps of the molecular processes involved in chemical recycling:
- Depolymerisation:
- Organic and inorganic substances undergo treatment with water under constant heat and pressure.
- This process separates the materials, and organic-based components are advanced to subsequent stages of chemical recycling.
- Hydrolysis:
- Carbon-based molecules undergo a water gas shift reaction, where hydrogen and hydroxide attach to target carbons.
- This reaction frees carbon from contaminants, and a subsequent decarboxylation removes oxygen from hydrocarbon chains, producing pure, long hydrocarbon chains.
- Cracker (Thermal Cracking):
- Thermal cracking is initiated by elevating the ambient temperature above 450 degrees.
- This process shortens the chains of long-chain hydrocarbons, resulting in the production of high-quality products in the final stage of chemical recycling.
While conventional methods, like pyrolysis or gasification, can only handle certain types of plastic and household waste, Synpet offers a unique technology called the Thermal Conversion Process (TCP™) that can recycle all types of waste.
Synpet’s innovative technology uses water and does not require any pre-treatment. This means that any unsorted and wet waste can be added to the feedstock, making recycling more cost-effective and efficient.
Benefits of Chemical Recycling
Chemical recycling supports the circular economy by preserving the quality of recycled materials, accommodating diverse plastic waste streams and reducing environmental impact. This approach promotes sustainable resource usage in the life cycle of plastics.
Here are 3 benefits chemical recycling offers to the plastic waste challenge:
- High-Quality Output: Traditional recycling downgrades materials, requiring virgin materials.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Breaking down polymers into molecular components creates high-quality materials, supporting a circular economy.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Breaking down polymers into molecular components creates high-quality materials, supporting a circular economy.
- Handling Diverse Plastic Waste Streams: Mechanical recycling struggles with mixed or contaminated materials.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Chemical recycling effectively handles various plastic types and conditions, managing diverse plastic waste streams.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Chemical recycling effectively handles various plastic types and conditions, managing diverse plastic waste streams.
- Reducing Environmental Impact: Traditional waste management practices contribute to pollution and resource depletion.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Chemical recycling reduces environmental impact by regenerating materials from existing waste, supporting a more sustainable system.
- Chemical Recycling Solution: Chemical recycling reduces environmental impact by regenerating materials from existing waste, supporting a more sustainable system.
Chemical recycling is remarkably beneficial for the circular economy by recycling plastic waste into naphtha, which is commonly used to produce new plastic goods. This creates a closed-loop system that reduces the need for new plastic production.
It also preserves material quality and enables diverse applications for recycled materials. On top of that, chemical recycling has cross-industrial implications, disrupting the petrochemical industry and supporting sustainable practices in agriculture and packaging.
Synpet’s Leadership in Chemical Recycling
Synpet offers a patented waste management solution that converts complex plastics and PVC into RCO. TCP™ technology uses water instead of requiring clean, separated, or dried waste, making recycling more affordable.
By breaking down complex polymers into smaller molecules, Synpet’s method not only solves the ongoing problems of plastic waste but also takes a big step towards supporting a circular economy.
This innovation makes Synpet a pioneer, providing a solution that aligns with the industry’s goals of being environmentally responsible and efficient with resources.
Synpet recently partnered up with Kolmar Group AG, a leading global company, to make a significant and impactful investment in the highly renowned Port of Antwerp. This port, known as one of the largest and busiest petrochemical clusters in Europe, is set to benefit greatly from Synpet’s innovative technology.
By joining forces, Synpet and Kolmar Group AG aim to revolutionise waste management recycling in this thriving industrial hub. This collaboration is expected to bring about a transformative solution that will address the pressing issue of waste management and contribute to the sustainable development goals of the region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chemical recycling plays a very important role in shaping the future of sustainability. It can break down polymers into high-quality materials, promoting a circular and sustainable economy.
As industries face the urgent need for eco-friendly solutions to tackle the increasing challenges of plastic waste and environmental damage, chemical recycling offers hope.
Join Synpet for innovative chemical recycling solutions and eco-friendly waste management.
