Sustainability Assessment of Employing Chemical Recycling Technologies on Multilayer Packaging Waste

Abstract

While multilayer plastic is difficult for recycling, innovative technologies and tactics are being developed to improve the process. New technologies in chemical recycling show promising results; however, the net improvement brought to the environment, economy, and society should be assessed for their wider adoption and diffusion. This study focuses on a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) of an innovative process for the sorting and chemical recycling of multilayer plastic packaging waste from post-consumer sources to obtain new packaging for the food industry. The analysis indicated that the packaging made of rPET obtained through depolymerization is environmentally and economically competitive compared to the virgin PET. Packaging made of rPET and rLDPE obtained through delamination usually performed worse (or comparable) than the virgin counterparts. The social impact assessment indicated some areas of concern (e.g., workers’ health and safety risks due to exposure to hazardous substances), as well as potential opportunities (e.g., improved local employment). This paper is the first to present a synergetic approach to the sustainability assessment of chemical recycling technologies to obtain new high-performance packaging solutions. It provides useful insights to academics, managers, and decision makers in the plastic recycling sector whether (and under what conditions) the chemical recycling of multilayer plastic waste is feasible from the environmental, economic, and social perspectives. Despite associated uncertainties, the results are promising as an attractive option for further research, optimization, and upscaling.