August 22, 2024 – Jean-Luc Dubois, the chief scientist at Trinseo, recently emphasized the indispensable role of plastics in meeting society’s most demanding application needs. Plastics, he noted, are closely linked to technological advancements, whether it’s in lightweight vehicle designs for improved fuel efficiency or in hygiene and durable medical equipment. However, with millions of tons of plastics produced globally every year, finding sustainable methods for plastic waste disposal has become an urgent priority.
The issue of plastic waste has garnered global attention, pushing regulatory bodies and industry organizations towards a circular economy transition. Europe, North America, and Asia have all implemented relevant regulations, while various industry organizations are strengthening the construction of circular economy infrastructure. Trinseo’s sustainable development strategy aligns with this trend, focusing on helping customers achieve mandatory targets for recycled content in plastic solutions.
According to the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, Trinseo is expanding its portfolio of sustainably advantaged products through investments in recycling technology and research and development initiatives. Developing supporting recycling technology is one of Trinseo’s key approaches to achieving circular solutions.
In the field of plastic recycling, mechanical and physical recycling are two commonly used methods. Mechanical recycling involves processing, sorting, treating, and grinding waste materials to give them a new lease on life. Physical recycling, on the other hand, allows for broader utilization of waste, affecting only the target polymer. However, these methods have limitations when dealing with waste containing unwanted additives, inhibitors, and polymeric impurities.
The emergence of chemical recycling technology has addressed these issues. This technology utilizes methods like pyrolysis and solvent decomposition to reduce materials to their original molecular form. Trinseo has invested heavily in these technologies, offering customers various acrylic solutions containing recycled content. Its R-Life product line, which uses at least 50% chemically or mechanically recycled raw materials, maximizes the utilization of waste raw materials while maintaining product quality consistency.
Furthermore, Trinseo focuses on depolymerization technology, a chemical recycling method that reduces PMMA to recycled methyl methacrylate (rMMA). As the market demand for acrylic and MMA continues to grow, Trinseo’s depolymerization technology provides industries like construction, consumer electronics, consumer goods, and healthcare with a high-purity, sustainable rMMA alternative to virgin materials.
Through its manufacturing expertise and global network collaborations, Trinseo utilizes depolymerization technology to generate high-purity monomers for producing resins and sheets containing rMMA. This not only offers designers and brands sustainable options but also drives the entire plastics industry towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable direction.