Monomer Recycling as Complementary Technology in a Circular Economy

Plastic waste is one of the major challenges facing modern society. Against the background of climate change and finite fossil resources, the realization of a true circular economy for plastics is imperative. Mechanical recycling processes offer a short-cut path for the recycling of clean, single material waste while they are not capable to handle mixed material or colored feeds. Complementary technologies are necessary to recover pure monomers, hydrocarbon mixtures or syngas from mixed secondary raw material to continuously close the loop in a circular plastics economy. Using the example of PET, this contribution discusses the benefit of integrating a back-to-monomer recycling for closing the loop aiming at a holistically approach integrating technological, ecological and economic aspects.