Topic Sheet: Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling (CR) is the broad term used to describe a range of technologies capable of recycling plastics using chemical processes as opposed to strictly mechanical ones. It has the potential to process plastics such as mixed rigids, films, multi-material plastics and laminated plastics. By turning plastic waste back into base chemicals and feedstocks, some types of CR can yield virgin-quality feedstock (as well as oil for use as fuel) that can be suitable for food-grade packaging. These technologies could therefore effectively complement mechanical recycling in achieving a circular economy because they can recycle a wider variety of plastic and provide food-grade recycled content.