As demand for eco-friendly products continues to grow, companies that adopt circular-economy principles will be better positioned to meet this demand. By designing products with recyclability in mind, we can reduce waste and improve the efficiency of resource use.
Redesign for recycling
One important consideration in your design process is reducing the use of bonded multi-materials. It’s true they have excellent functional properties for a wide range of uses, from multi-layer packaging to car parts. But they were created in the days before we were focussed on end-of-life processing. By simplifying designs and increasing the use of mono-materials, your products are more easily separated into suitable recycling streams.
The industry can also benefit from the emergence of new technologies and materials that improve the recyclability of plastics. For example, new bioplastics in development are biodegradable or more easily recycled. There are also innovative recycling technologies, like chemical recycling that breaks plastics down into their basic building blocks for reuse in new products. The plastics industry is beginning to redesign for recycling. The transition won’t be easy. It will require significant investment, but the benefits of circularity are clear.
Circularity from the startImplementing recyclability and circular principles in the design process is a critical approach to create products that can be efficiently recycled and reused at the end of their life cycle. Here are some questions every designer needs to be asking.
Material selection
- Are there renewable/recycled alternatives with equal or better function?
- Do the end-of-life options suit local capabilities?
Application complexity
- Can we simplify disassembly for easier recycling?
- Are any parts or packaging unnecessary?
Lightweight design
- Can we make the same product with less raw materials?
- Can we reduce weight to decrease emissions during transport?
Consumer education
- Are end-of-life options clear to the user?
- How can we communicate recyclability?
Regulatory compliance
- Have we considered all applicable regulations?
- Do we aim to meet them or exceed them?
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Answering these questions will help you identify opportunities to anchor recyclability in your design process. That’s easier said than done, so our specialists at IMCD are here to help with innovative ideas, customized support, and technical expertise.
Are you ready for renewables?
In addition to recyclables, renewable source materials can help improve your overall sustainability. Renewables are materials made from bio-based, or plant-derived, natural resources. That means they can be replenished, unlike petroleum-based polymers.
An important consideration when working with alternative plastics is end-of-life strategy. Plastics made using renewable materials fall into three categories:
- Biodegradable plastics are made from bio-based materials that decompose naturally over time.
- Compostable plastics can also decompose, but typically need to be collected and processed in industrial composting facilities.
- Durable plastics can be made from a mix of bio-based content and petroleum polymers, so they include renewably sourced material, but they may not be circular.
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One big challenge with renewables is communicating clearly with the end user about where and how and to dispose of used products. Too often, products made with renewable materials end up in ‘normal’ recycling bins, where they contaminate the recycling stream. Take polylactic acid (PLA), for example. Made from plant starch, it is 100% bio-based and recyclable, but the infrastructure and technology for separation and processing remains limited for now.
Green certification programmes are helping here. Labelling companies, such as TÜV and DIN, are working on categorising products based on their specific polymer blend to prevent confusion and streamline end-of-life processing.
So, are you ready for renewables? While progress is being made and some early successes are already being seen, the better question may be: Are renewables ready for you?
Let’s explore renewable alternatives
IMCD can support you with in-depth technical know-how and a comprehensive range of materials from renewable sources — including PLA, PBS, PBAT, natural fibers, bio-additives, ready-made compounds, natural polymers, bio-based PA and more.
This article is part of our trends commentary on recyclability. Click on the links below to read more about related trends and insights.
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