Dear Readers,
Over the past few weeks, I have been able to ask around in the plastics recycling industry and refresh and expand my knowledge. Each of these conversations was about the technological potential of this industry.
As always and everywhere, there are two sides to the coin: The second topic in those discussions - no less important - was the compatibility of technologies with the specifications and requirements of legislation, which are different from country to country.
Between the companies that carry out the recycling and the machine and plant manufacturers who supply the equipment, there is legislation that defines the requirements for this. A kind of dynamic triad because there is no status quo. Recycling technologies are developing at high speed: not only are new technologies entering the scene - chemical and biological processes are on the rise alongside classic mechanical recycling - but mechanical recycling is pushing its limits further by offering solutions for an increasing number of plastics and further expanding existing technologies in terms of efficiency and speed.
Who understands the business best? Who can ensure that recyclers can do their job: process used packaging into recycling material as much as possible, as efficiently and as safely as required? Who can support the authorities and enable them to issue regulations that meet all requirements and ensure safety while at the same time not thwarting technological potential?
Against this background, technology suppliers are taking on new tasks: confirmed by the results of their specific technologies, they have always known how to convince their customers. So much for the classic one-dimensional orientation. Today, with their elaborations, the technology providers ensure that legislators can build up know-how and develop a deep understanding of plastics recycling-specific technologies. The regulatory decisions are based on the preparatory work of the technology providers.
If the technology suppliers accept this responsibility and if the legislative authorities base their decisions on factual input, then I can only see opportunities for the plastic packaging industry: recycling technologies will be further advanced, and ever higher proportions of packaging material will be kept in the cycle. At the same time, waste volumes and the production of virgin material will decrease.
Solutions and the ability to collaborate are part of engineers’ DNA. The latter is occasionally put to the test in interaction with the authorities. But when it works, everyone benefits – society and industry.
Yours,
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Appel
PETnology/tecPET GmbH
