Plastics to Bio

Plastics To Bio - An affordable, economically viable concept and initiative to decouple plastics from fossils

Production of plastics will soon reach 400 million tons per annum. Unless we react we will produce over 1 billion tons in 2050 – and
even if we take all the currently known possible mitigation measures, growth will still be immense and we will reach a level of 700-800 million tons of plastics produced annually. This growth is driven not only by population growth, expected to be 50% in the next 30 years, but also by the growth of the middle class. The number of middle class citizens, living in highly urban areas, is set to increase by 2 billion in the same period. The global plastics problem is crying out for a solution. Unless mankind starts to take responsibility for its waste, we will soon drown in plastics – and all other sorts of waste.

The plastics problem can be solved. Technologies are available, it is just a matter of will. Besides solving the problems related to plastics, we can make the conversion to bio-based materials in an affordable, economically viable manner. An unconventional way of thinking, frustration and interest to learn combined with deep understanding and knowhow can lead to a complete restructuring of value-chains and industries. Three things are needed: collection of all plastics after use, no matter how long the use period has been; recycling of all plastic types and qualities; and enough bio-based feedstock to replace fossil feedstock.

Plastics To Bio is possible but requires co-operation

Companies need to join forces to implement in large scale the collection and recycling of plastics. Under the PlasticsToBio initiative companies with non-competitive interest to recycle plastics and start the use of bio-based materials as raw material can collaborate to optimize solutions for each type of recyclable material available.

The good news is that societies and consumers have in recent times become more and more aware of the huge magnitude of the plastics
waste problem. Companies around the world are keen to begin this task of solving the world’s plastics problems and preventing us from drowning in plastics.

AFRY Management Consulting has a clear view on how this can be implemented and with what investment and timetable. AFRY is approaching companies active in oil refining and plastics production, bio-based feedstock and bio-plastic producers, waste management companies, technology providers, mechanical and chemical recyclers for plastics, retailers and brand-owners. Our ambitions must be high if we are to achieve these challenging objectives.

In a matter of a decade, we should recycle already more than 100 million tons of plastics and by 2050 the amount must exceed 500
million tons. Currently, less than 10% of all plastics end up recycled. This PlasticsToBio concept will lead to the largest transformation in
the history of petrochemicals and the restructuring of businesses and redistribution of value. In a new circular economy, the ownership of
raw materilas and goods is no longer obvious and each stakeholder needs to figure out their position on material ownership. It may be
more efficient and economical just to lease the material. Many companies are now considering these options and it may lead to a fight over the valuable waste raw material assets. During the transformation, it is however obvious that unless everyone works together, the problem will not be solved. No one party can solve the issue by itself, it will require a lot of horizontal and vertical cooperation among suppliers, clients and competitors.

PlasticsToBio will enable 1 Gt CO2 savings per year when implemented.

Society can save over US$100 billion in transition to circular bioeconomy