Council Discussion: Material Science Focusing on Circular Economy as its Core Concept
Han Hendriks, Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer at Trinseo, is leading the charge for a greener future. For way too long, material innovation has centered around boosting performance and slashing costs. We've made strides in achieving lighter, stronger, insulated, beautiful, easy-to-shape, long-lasting, and affordable products behind our modern comforts.
But as we soar to new heights, it's time to integrate environmental considerations in material development. This IP перекрепление represents a seismic shift in innovation, design, and manufacturing processes – and it calls for fresh thinking, time, and investment. A predictable market and enabling environment are vitally important for its success.
Adapting to Change
Different industries are responding to this shift in their unique ways. Automotive producers, for instance, are integrating recycled materials into vehicle manufacturing. Construction is embracing sustainable building materials like recycled concrete and reclaimed wood for waste reduction and greater resource efficiencies. Consumer electronics companies are using recycled materials in adaptor enclosures and electronic packaging, and recycling programs for electronic waste are becoming more prevalent. Packaging has experienced a seismic shift too, with biodegradable and compostable materials taking place of conventional plastics, meeting consumer preferences for environmentally-friendly products.
Material manufacturers are adapting in various ways as well. They’re shifting their innovation pipelines towards sustainable materials development and securing sustainable feedstock for better material development and supply. Backward integration with recyclers, collaborations with major brand names to return and collect end-of-life products, recycling technology development, and emissions reduction efforts are all part of the equation.
Recycling Technologies Paving the Way
Developing sustainable materials necessitates a steady supply of sustainable raw materials – waste or end-of-life products. The circular economy hinges on retrieving, recycling, and reusing materials within the system. Recycling technologies serve as the linchpin in this process.
Recycling end-of-life products creates an essential foundation for the circular economy. Different recycling techniques are employed based on the plastic being recycled for optimal yield and quality. Nowadays, there are proven recycling techniques that provide more upcycling potential than traditional mechanical recycling. Here are two such examples:
Dissolution Recycling
Dissolution recycling depends on solvents to extract specific polymers from mixed waste streams. This method enables the recovery of high-quality materials for reuse in new products. The dissolution process can handle mixed and contaminated plastic wastes, which often stump traditional recycling methods. Currently, polycarbonate, ABS, and polystyrene are effectively recycled via the dissolution process. These materials are indispensable in various daily products, like electronics, appliances, packaging, and car components.
Depolymerization Recycling
Depolymerization recycling involves breaking down plastics into their basic chemical monomers, which can then be used to produce new materials of similar quality to virgin plastic materials. This method allows recycled materials to keep up with the performance requirements of many industries. PMMA and polystyrene are currently part of the depolymerization process. PMMA is popular in diverse applications, like decorative panels, shelves, displays, and cosmetic product packaging.
Guiding the Future of Material Science
Material science is at the forefront of the journey to a circular economy. Product innovations and recycling technologies are advancing circularity, paving the way to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Collaboration between industry, academia, and government will be essential in overcoming obstacles and scaling up these technologies. Harmonized policies and infrastructure are crucial to completing the circular economy model. It’s a long-term, continual investment – both financially and in talent development.
The challenge is linking the "missing links" in the product cycle to make it circular. Every player in the cycle will have to contribute to filling these gaps. Brand owners must develop collection systems, material manufacturers must innovate technology to rescue end-of-life materials, designers must prioritize recyclability in their designs, and consumer behavior must change, so returning used products becomes habitual. To make this happen, we need policies and regulations that support and even incentivize the change.
Material science is an intriguing field to be a part of, with countless opportunities on the horizon. By working together and using science and facts as our guide, we can overcome hurdles and break new ground, forging a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Han Hendriks, as the Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer at Trinseo, is actively exploring the use of sustainable materials in the production of polystyrene, a material commonly used in displays. This shift towards sustainability and circularity aligns with Han's mission to lead the company towards a greener future.
In the realm of material manufacturing, Han has been advocating for the integration of recycling technologies to process end-of-life polystyrene into high-quality materials for reuse. This approach, which is part of the circular economy, is expected to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency.
Han's vision for the future of material science involves a collaborative effort between industry, academia, and government to tackle the challenges necessary for the successful implementation of circular economy principles. By focusing on the development of recycling technologies, Han hopes to close the product cycle, making recycling of materials like polystyrene a habitual part of daily consumer behavior.