7 things you might not know about recycling plastic

Plastic is everywhere! Plastic is an essential substance in today's world due to its wide range of applications from health care to convenience food service, as well as the affordability of plastic materials and interior furnishings we use in homes, offices and schools. However, plastics also pose significant environmental challenges, as valuable natural resources are used in their manufacture and their disposal often has a negative impact on our ecosystems.

Fortunately, as we move towards a circular economy, more and more plastic is being recycled. Global plastic production has grown from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 359 billion tons in 2018, according to Statista. Recycling plastic is vital to protecting our planet and we must work to reduce waste, curb climate change and protect it for future generations.

To celebrate the growing plastic recycling movement, we’re listing down seven things you might not know about recycling plastic. We hope this information will spark interest, raise awareness and inspire action.

1. Businesses get involved in the plastic recycling movement

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has spearheaded the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, bringing together businesses, governments and other stakeholders in an ambitious campaign to reduce plastic waste and pollution. The program includes around 400 organizations, including more than 200 businesses from all stages of the value chain, accounting for more than 20% of all plastic packaging used globally. According to their 2019 progress report, 36% of packaged goods companies participating in the program are currently testing and piloting business models for reusing plastic.

2. Consumers demand plastic recycling

An Accenture survey showed that 83% of consumer respondents believe it is very or extremely important for companies to design products that are reusable or recyclable. Additionally, 77% of respondents said plastic is the least environmentally friendly type of packaging. Recycling may help change this perception. For manufacturers, this insight clearly demonstrates that the market demands sustainable solutions.

3. Regulation is changing the landscape

China’s Blue Sky/National Sword policy (also known as the Green Sword policy) implemented in early 2018 prompted a change in global thinking on plastic waste. Twenty years ago, China imported recyclable materials from around the world, but in 2018, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection restricted the import of dozens of recyclable materials, including many types of plastic waste. The need for recycled plastic, new plastic recycling facilities and reducing waste are all important. There is other legislation being introduced at the same time, such as one-third of EU member states imposing restrictions and recycling requirements on single-use plastic manufacturers. These changes will promote an increase in plastic recycling as fewer destinations accept waste.

4. Plastic recycling can divert plastic from waterways towards the ocean

The Ocean Conservancy estimates that 8 million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year. Projections suggest that if we don’t act now, every 3 pounds of fish in the ocean could contain 1 pound of plastic within the next decade. An important step in reducing ocean plastic is to collect plastic that reaches the ocean and divert it to recycling facilities, preventing it from entering our waterways. New inspection standards like the UL 2809 Environmental Claims Verification Procedure (ECVP) standard for recycled plastic content examine the amount of plastic used in products that would otherwise end up in the ocean.

5. The difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer recycling

There are many sources for recycled plastic. Pre-consumer recyclate is material that has reached its intended end-user but is no longer used for its intended purpose. Post-consumer waste can be generated from plastic bottles and food containers whose contents have been post-consumer, or items such as mobile phones that have been thrown away after years of use.

Pre-consumer (post-industrial) recyclates are materials diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process that never reach the end user. For example, scraps from the production of plastic packaging, or plastic toys deemed substandard by quality control departments, never reach consumers.

Both types of recycling divert waste from landfills and can be used as an acceptable source of recycled plastic content.

6. The safety and performance of recycled plastics can be verified

UL Solutions is pioneering the effort to provide a set of objective mechanisms throughout the plastics value chain to verify the quality, safety and sustainability of recycled plastics, allowing manufacturers, brand owners and end users alike to have confidence in the performance and sustainability of materials. Be confident in your credibility. For example, UL 746D Safety Standard for Polymeric Materials—Finished Parts (8th Edition) evaluates whether plastics containing recycled content meet UL Solutions safety standards. UL Solutions also offers the Plastics Testing and Certification Program (Yellow Card), which tests plastics for compliance with applicable regulatory standards and compliance with performance requirements.

7. Plastic recycling can be counted

On the face of it, it may seem almost impossible to efficiently calculate the amount of recycled plastic used in goods. After all, how is it possible to verify that the plastic used in a product is actually part of a polymer or liquid resin blend melt? It is simply impossible to distinguish chemically recycled content from new plastic. To do this, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UL Solutions established a process called mass balance accounting, which tracks quantities through production systems to account for how much recycled plastic is used in the final product. If you want to know how it works, read Mass Balance: A New Way to Calculate Recyclate Content.

As we continue to shift toward a more circular economy, manufacturers can start developing plans to increase the use of recycled materials. Check out UL Solutions’ solutions for recycling plastics, or contact UL Solutions for help determining next steps.