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Techno‐economic assessment and comparison of different plastic recycling pathways: A German case study

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  • Rebekka Volk
  • Christoph Stallkamp
  • Justus J. Steins
  • Savina Padumane Yogish
  • Richard C. Müller
  • Dieter Stapf
  • Frank Schultmann

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be reduced to limit global warming. Plastic production requires carbon raw materials and energy that are associated today with predominantly fossil raw materials and fossil GHG emissions. Worldwide, the plastic demand is increasing annually by 4%. Recycling technologies can help save or reduce GHG emissions, but they require comparative assessment. Thus, we assess mechanical recycling, chemical recycling by means of pyrolysis and a consecutive, complementary combination of both concerning Global Warming Potential (GWP) [CO2e], Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) [MJ/kg], carbon efficiency [%], and product costs [€] in a process‐oriented approach and within defined system boundaries. The developed techno‐economic and environmental assessment approach is demonstrated in a case study on recycling of separately collected mixed lightweight packaging (LWP) waste in Germany. In the recycling paths, the bulk materials polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) are assessed. The combined mechanical and chemical recycling (pyrolysis) of LWP waste shows considerable saving potentials in GWP (0.48 kg CO2e/kg input), CED (13.32 MJ/kg input), and cost (0.14 €/kg input) and a 16% higher carbon efficiency compared to the baseline scenario with state‐of‐the‐art mechanical recycling in Germany. This leads to a combined recycling potential between 2.5 and 2.8 million metric tons/year that could keep between 0.8 and 2 million metric tons/year additionally in the (circular) economy instead of incinerating them. This would be sufficient to reach both EU and German recycling rate targets (EC 2018). This article met the requirements for a gold‐silver JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

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  • Rebekka Volk & Christoph Stallkamp & Justus J. Steins & Savina Padumane Yogish & Richard C. Müller & Dieter Stapf & Frank Schultmann, 2021. "Techno‐economic assessment and comparison of different plastic recycling pathways: A German case study," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1318-1337, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:25:y:2021:i:5:p:1318-1337
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Turner, David A. & Williams, Ian D. & Kemp, Simon, 2015. "Greenhouse gas emission factors for recycling of source-segregated waste materials," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 186-197.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rajesh Mehta & Milad Golkaram & Jack T. W. E. Vogels & Tom Ligthart & Eugene Someren & Spela Ferjan & Jelmer Lennartz, 2023. "BEVSIM: Battery electric vehicle sustainability impact assessment model," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1266-1276, October.
    2. Esra’a Amin Al-Athamin & Safwat Hemidat & Husam Al-Hamaiedeh & Salah H. Aljbour & Tayel El-Hasan & Abdallah Nassour, 2021. "A Techno-Economic Analysis of Sustainable Material Recovery Facilities: The Case of Al-Karak Solid Waste Sorting Plant, Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Sarah Schmidt & David Laner, 2023. "The environmental performance of plastic packaging waste management in Germany: Current and future key factors," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1447-1460, December.
    4. Tan, Kai Qi & Ahmad, Mohd Azmier & Oh, Wen Da & Low, Siew Chun, 2023. "Valorization of hazardous plastic wastes into value-added resources by catalytic pyrolysis-gasification: A review of techno-economic analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    5. Patria, Raffel Dharma & Rehman, Shazia & Yuen, Chun-Bong & Lee, Duu-Jong & Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K. & Leu, Shao-Yuan, 2024. "Energy-environment-economic (3E) hub for sustainable plastic management – Upgraded recycling, chemical valorization, and bioplastics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    6. Christoph Stallkamp & Malte Hennig & Rebekka Volk & Frank Richter & Britta Bergfeldt & Salar Tavakkol & Frank Schultmann & Dieter Stapf, 2023. "Economic and environmental assessment of automotive plastic waste end‐of‐life options: Energy recovery versus chemical recycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1319-1334, October.

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