Recycling. Towards a circular economy - part 1

In the previous issue of Chimica OGGI / Chemistry TODAY I discussed the option to use CO₂ as a feedstock (CCU or Carbon Capture and Use). Predictions say that in the next decades, up to 20 % of CO₂ emissions can be utilized in electrochemical reduction processes to produce chemicals or fuels, such as formate, carbon monoxide, methanol, and others when the energy efficiency (selectivity) is optimized.

In this issue of Chimica Oggi / Chemistry Today I will talk about the third and last carbon source (besides biomass and CO₂) that can be used as alternative for fossil resources. This 3rd source is the recycling of waste materials. In order to meet the Paris agreement targets for CO₂ reduction, recycling of all materials, including plastics, which has developed over the last 15 years, must be maximized. If we don’t, plastics will account for 15% of the total carbon budget in 2050 according to the Ellen McArthur foundation. The other main reason for recycling is becoming more and more obvious. We need to help conserve valuable resources, such as all metals, carbon, plastic materials and energy in order to be sustainable. The overarching goal of sustainability is the use of technology and resources to “meet our current needs without compromising on the needs of future generations”. In other words, we can use resources (stuff) at a rate at which it can be replaced and we should minimize damage in the process of doing so.