The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, representing most UN member states, aims to finalize an international legally binding document at a meeting in Seoul in November 2024 to address plastic pollution.

Source: EUReporter

The focus will be on collecting plastic for recycling and reusing it in new products, while still allowing for the production of polymers with their unique properties, like being lightweight, cost-effective, moisture-resistant, and recyclable.

Plastic has distinct characteristics, but global opinions on it vary. Earlier this year, the Centre for Climate Integrity (CCI) released a report accusing international petrochemical companies of misleading the public by claiming widespread industrial plastic recycling is feasible. The CCI argued that due to technological and economic constraints, most plastic waste cannot be recycled effectively. They highlighted that the quality of recycled plastic degrades over time, limiting its reuse.

In contrast, a recent study by the Russian Chemists Union disproved this, showing that common polymers like PP, LDPE, HDPE, PVC, and PS can be recycled multiple times without losing their properties. Various experiments confirmed that LDPE and PVC maintain their properties after 10 recycling cycles, HDPE after 9 cycles, polypropylene after 8, and polystyrene after 5. The study assessed recycled materials based on molecular weight, breaking stress, elongation at break, oxygen-containing groups, yellowing, and melt flow.

Russia plans to establish a recycling method for basic polymers and explore their potential applications. Responsible companies are increasingly using recycled plastic to reduce environmental impact. SIBUR, Russia's largest polymer producer, is integrating recycled materials into its production processes. They currently utilize mechanical recycling for PET, LDPE, PP, and others under the Vivilen brand, with up to 70% recycled content.

SIBUR is also developing chemical recycling (thermolysis) to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into raw materials for polymer production. This technology involves sorting, high temperatures (400°C), and pressure to transform polymer waste into aquathermolysis "oil" fractions for polymer production.

This shift towards incorporating polymers into new products benefits the environment and the economy. Polymers are becoming key components of the circular economy, with the potential for repeated recycling, as affirmed by the Russian Chemists Union.