Where do plastics come from?
During the manufacturing process, the first type of solid plastic waste (SPW) is generated: post-industrial (PI) waste, which never makes it to the consumer. This could include runners from injection moulding, waste from production changeovers, fall-out products, cuttings, and trimmings. Typically PI waste has the distinct advantages that it is clean and the composition of the polymer is known.
Listen to how Dr. Geoff Binder, University of Melbourne’s Behavior Change and Environmental Sustainability Expert, and Anika Ballent, Education Director at Algalita Marine Research, discuss the current situation in Plastics.
Transcripts of this episode can be found here.
What issues exist now?
Both degradation during lifetime and thermal-mechanical degradation yield low-molecular volatile compounds that are mostly trapped in the polymer when in the solid state. During reprocessing, however, these contaminants may diffuse through the melt and hinder the effective reprocessing. These contaminants cannot only compromise the product properties, but also the processing itself, since some may corrode the processing equipment.
How can we help?
Design for Recycling is, via the Ecodesign Directive (European Commission, 2009), heavily promoted by the EU within the framework of the Circular Economy, a schematic of which is shown in Fig. 22. It is a well-known product development strategy in which new products are developed so that they can be recycled at their EoL.
“People are ready to effect change”
— Dr. Geoff Binder
About Anika Ballent
Anika Ballent is the Education Director at Algalita Marine Research and Education with extensive experience in climate change. As the pioneer in the study of plastic pollution, Algalita was the first to spearhead the research methodology for collecting and analyzing micro/macroplastic samples from the ocean.
About Dr. Geoff Binder
Dr. Geoff Binder is an academic and consultant in behavior and organizational change/innovation for environmental sustainability. He teaches behavior change to Master of Environment students and uses multi- and trans-disciplinary ideas to build a holistic approach to personal and organizational change.