Article
Polymer Science
Jannick Schmidt, Laura Grau, Maximilian Auer, Roman Maletz, Joerg Woidasky
Summary: Sorting multilayer packaging remains a major challenge in recycling post-consumer plastic waste. Research shows that multilayer packaging is selected based on its functionality without considering its recyclability. The pace of innovation in recycling processes lags behind packaging material innovations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sibel Ugduler, Tobias De Somer, Kevin M. Van Geem, Martijn Roosen, Andreas Kulawig, Ralf Leineweber, Steven De Meester
Summary: This study provides insights into the delamination mechanism of multilayer flexible packaging film (MFPF) with carboxylic acids by using a first principles-based approach. The model developed based on Fick's first law of diffusion and first-order dissolution kinetics of polyurethane adhesives successfully estimated delamination time under different experimental conditions. The possibility of using high S/L ratios in scaling up delamination processes is highlighted.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chen-Hua Wang, Hsin-Tien Lin
Summary: Packaging accounts for the largest demand in global plastic consumption, with around 60% used for food and beverage packaging. Our study quantified the food packaging generation from major supermarket and convenience store chains in Taipei, Taiwan, and found that 64.99% of the packaging was recycled. Identifying limitations in different stages and designing corresponding strategies is crucial to promote plastic food packaging recycling.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mattia Costamagna, Beatrice Maria Massaccesi, Devis Mazzucco, Marcello Baricco, Paola Rizzi
Summary: Plastic packaging, especially multilayer flexible packaging, is essential in everyday life, but the recycling of these materials is challenging. This study aims to assess the technical feasibility and environmental sustainability of a process for recycling polyamides-polyethylene multilayer packaging films. The technique used involves selective dissolution of the polymers using monoethylene glycol. Experimental tests determined the optimal conditions for film treatment and maximizing yields and product quality. Life Cycle Assessment showed that the recycling process reduces the overall environmental impacts of these materials. Therefore, the analyzed recycling process is an effective approach to increase environmental sustainability and recover raw materials.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaozheng Chen, Nils Kroell, Jan Wickel, Alexander Feil
Summary: Flexible multilayer plastic packaging, popular in food and medical sectors, faces challenges in recycling. Near-infrared spectroscopy technology can be used for the classification of post-consumer multilayer plastic packaging, with an accuracy exceeding 96%.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Manu C. Mulakkal, Arturo Castillo Castillo, Ambrose C. Taylor, Bamber R. K. Blackman, Daniel S. Balint, Soraia Pimenta, Maria N. Charalambides
Summary: Plastics, while facing negative publicity due to current pollution levels, remain irreplaceable in applications such as food packaging. There is an urgent need to increase recycling rates, particularly challenging for MLP. This study combines engineering tools with environmental policy to address the challenges of single-use plastic packaging.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chiara Samori, Walter Pitacco, Martina Vagnoni, Emilio Catelli, Thomas Colloricchio, Chiara Gualandi, Luciana Mantovani, Alessio Mezzi, Giorgia Sciutto, Paola Galletti
Summary: De-pulped multilayer packaging waste containing LDPE and aluminium was separated into its components using sustainable solvents. High purity LDPE and aluminium were recovered using biodiesel, 2-MeTHF, and CPME. The recovered LDPE showed similarity to the original polymer, while analysis confirmed the non-oxidative behavior of the solvents. The mass balance of the recovered materials and solvents was close to 100%.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Salih Cevikarslan, Carsten Gelhard, Jorg Henseler
Summary: This article introduces a customized process for transforming the Dutch plastic packaging system into a circular economy. By using a serious game tool as part of a qualitative research method, various feasible and effective policies were developed, prioritized, and elaborated on to establish a circular plastic packaging value chain in the Netherlands.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gwenny Thomassen, Steven Van Passel, Luc Alaerts, Jo Dewulf
Summary: The management of post-consumer plastic packaging waste in Flanders was analyzed using material flow analysis. The study found that the mass recovery rate increased from 0% in 1985 to 31% in 2019, and could be further increased depending on improvement scenarios. The calculation rules and differentiation of secondary applications had a significant impact on the mass recovery rate. Achieving the recycling target of 65% by 2023 will be challenging if strict calculation methods are followed and best-case collection scenarios are not implemented. Clear calculation rules and a harmonized monitoring system are necessary for harmonizing targets.
Review
Food Science & Technology
M. K. Verma, S. Shakya, P. Kumar, J. Madhavi, J. Murugaiyan, M. V. R. Rao
Summary: The demand for food products and dietary supplements has drastically increased, leading to a significant impact on human lifestyle. Packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and protection of these products, evolving from traditional materials to more sustainable options like biodegradable materials. Automation in packaging has enhanced productivity and minimized damage to valuable products.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MYSORE
(2021)
Review
Business
Per Dannemand Andersen, Meiken Hansen, Cynthia Selin
Summary: Stakeholder inclusion is crucial in scenario planning to impact actual decision making and produce positive societal outcomes. The study delves into stakeholder concepts, roles, and methods of inclusion in the process. However, there are key tensions and open questions related to including stakeholders in scenario planning processes that require further exploration.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Yu Miao, Annette von Jouanne, Alexandre Yokochi
Summary: The global concern over plastic pollution has prompted the exploration of long-term solutions to eliminate plastic waste, such as converting waste plastics into fuels and recycling them into monomers. These methods offer promising opportunities to mitigate environmental harm and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fan Zhang, Yuting Zhao, Dandan Wang, Mengqin Yan, Jing Zhang, Pengyan Zhang, Tonggui Ding, Lei Chen, Chao Chen
Summary: The review summarizes advanced nonbiodegradable plastic waste treatment technologies, analyzes their mechanisms and development status, and proposes an outlook for industrial application to effectively address NPW issues.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Svetlana Tretsiakova-McNally, Helen Lubarsky, Ashlene Vennard, Paul Cairns, Charlie Farrell, Paul Joseph, Malavika Arun, Ian Harvey, John Harrison, Ali Nadjai
Summary: In this paper, a novel processing technology is developed to deal with hard-to-recycle plastic packaging waste contaminated with food residues. The technology effectively separates food residues from plastic waste materials, allowing for further re-use or recycling of the plastic packaging. Characterizations of the obtained fractions were conducted using spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and calorimetry, providing valuable insights for industrial players in plastic recycling.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Katarina Novakovic, Deepashree Thumbarathy, Marloes Peeters, Mark Geoghegan, Josephine Go Jefferies, Chris Hicks, Danae Manika, Sheng Dai
Summary: Interest in recycling is high, but plastic packaging waste recycling rate has stagnated. New approaches are needed to overcome existing limitations. Proposing the use of specific types of plastic for packaging and efficient separation of individual types for recycling.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yui Kawasaki, Sayaka Nagao-Sato, Misa Shimpo, Kahori Fujisaki, Emi Yoshii, Rie Akamatsu, Petra Warschburger
Summary: This study qualitatively describes sustainable dietary behaviors (SDBs) that Japanese and German adults can implement in their lives, and quantitatively compares the similarities and differences in understanding SDBs between the two samples. The study found that Japanese participants were more focused on food waste prevention, while German participants were more focused on solving environmental problems.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kechun Chen, Yuan Ding, Liming Yang, Zhihao Wang, Haoxuan Yu, Difan Fang, Yufa Feng, Liying Hu, Chenxi Xu, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Liang Chen
Summary: This study proposes a targeted repair scheme for the recovery of graphite anodes from spent LIBs by systematically characterizing and analyzing the structure and composition of spent graphite (SG). The results show that the repair scheme achieves effective SG repair and the repaired graphite anode displays excellent lithium storage performance.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Takao Ueda, Shigeki Koyanaka, Tatsuya Oki
Summary: Fires caused by accidental crushing of batteries are a serious issue in the e-waste recycling process. A new in-line sorting system that uses X-ray scanning and deep learning has been developed to accurately detect batteries. Through a validation study, the system achieved higher accuracy compared to other existing programs.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hannes Geist, Frank Balle
Summary: Research on circular economy often lacks empirical data, especially in the theory of circular process design and design for remanufacturing. This study systematically collected and analyzed engineering data on seven remanufacturing processes in the European automotive remanufacturing industry for the first time, providing empirical support for circular engineering challenges, potentials, and solutions.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Li, Fan Lue, Nanlin Liao, Hua Zhang, Na Yang, Pinjing He
Summary: This study assesses and predicts the greenhouse gas emissions on the timeline as waste treatment technologies develop in Shanghai from 1991 to 2025 using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The findings demonstrate that GHG emission has reached net-zero in 2019 owing to the application of alternative technologies and waste segregation.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingchun Liu, Haoyang Wang, Xiaoqin Liang, Yibo Wang, Zijie Feng
Summary: The expansion of the photovoltaic market has resulted in a significant increase in PV waste. Therefore, conducting scientific research to determine the importance of the circular economy for sustainable growth in the PV industry is essential. The study demonstrates that accurate prediction of PV installed capacity and quantifying the importance of recycling in balancing the supply and demand of raw materials can be achieved through a multi-factor installed capacity prediction model and recovery potential prediction.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chuanzhen Zhang, Baojing Gu, Xia Liang, Shu Kee Lam, Yi Zhou, Deli Chen
Summary: Reactive nitrogen is crucial for agriculture and human nutrition, but mismanagement can have detrimental effects on human health and ecosystem services, hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Progress towards nitrogen-related targets varies across countries, highlighting the need for integrated management to achieve overall synergies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alessandro Gatto, Marijke Kuiper, Corina van Middelaar, Hans van Meijl
Summary: This study examines the economic and environmental effects of transitioning towards more circular food systems in the European Union (EU27) by feeding animals with low-opportunity-cost feed and better utilizing local feed resources. The results show that providing subsidies for circularity and promoting the use of low-cost feed can increase animal production, but also have negative impacts on land use and emissions. On the other hand, promoting domestic feed sourcing through import tariffs can decrease animal production and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However, complementary policies are needed to mitigate drawbacks and enhance benefits of a more circular agri-food system.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinbo Zhang, Liu Chen, Yulei Xie, Pingjian Yang, Zheng Li, Huaicheng Guo, Yang Zhang, Lirong Liu
Summary: This study examines the impact of carbon taxes on low-carbon development and climate change mitigation. By constructing a cross-system bi-layer model, the study finds that reasonable carbon taxes can promote the stability of the energy network, reduce carbon emissions and air pollutants, and optimize production efficiency and the structure of the energy system. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects and implementation pathways of carbon taxes.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Konstantin Born, Mehmet Metehan Ciftci
Summary: Increasing recycling of metals is important for reducing reliance on mining, but it cannot fully meet future metal demand. Primary production of metals is expected to continue rising, highlighting the need for alternative circular economy strategies such as demand reduction and mitigating harmful impacts of primary metal production.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yinqiu Ma, Lin Huang, Jiahui Li, Wei Cao, Yumei Cai
Summary: Afforestation and reforestation, such as China's Grain for Green Program, have shown to effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to carbon sink capacity. This study highlights the significant carbon potential of the program and its potential application in other countries to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arlind Dervishaj, Kjartan Gudmundsson
Summary: This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment and provides suggestions. The study identifies limitations in the functionalities of current tools, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. Further development is needed in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohamadreza Y. Azarfam, Anuj Maheshwari, Frank D. Blum, Siddhesh Chaudhari, Clinton Switzer, Ranji Vaidyanathan, Jay C. Hanan, Sudheer Bandla
Summary: This study introduces a feasible method for manufacturing recycled composites using post-consumer carpets and recycled resin. The resulting composites have impressive strength and modulus, surpassing commercial thermoplastics and making them suitable for structural applications. This research presents a promising approach to address carpet landfilling and reduce reliance on additives.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pujiang Shi, Tianle Huang, Hong Kit Lim, Chiew Kei Tan, Jong-Min Lee, Chor Yong Tay
Summary: This study developed a highly porous bioadaptive 3D sponge-like construct from plastic materials in discarded keyboards for advanced in vitro applications. The findings demonstrate the potential of using discarded keyboards as a waste-to-resource feedstock to achieve waste reduction and maximize value-capture.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kuo-Jui Wu, Hailing Qiu, Caiyan Huang, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Ming-Lang Tseng
Summary: Government resource allocation practices for achieving carbon neutrality should be guided by dynamic system theory to identify potential dynamics. Carbon intensity control dynamics have a significant influence on other dynamics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)