An assessment of current efforts towards a circular economy : the case of chemical recycling with pyrolysis processes

Abstract

The accumulation of plastic waste in recent decades, caused by elevated levels of production and a short period of use in many cases, poses increasingly severe challenges to marine and terrestrial life. Therefore, attempts are being made to identify ways to reduce these quantities in order to counteract the problem. Circular Economy is a buzzword that is often mentioned in this context, under which many activities to extend the service lifetime are subsumed. Pyrolysis processes, as a form of chemical recycling, involve a technique often presented as a poster child and are subject to increased research. Consequently, this thesis will address the following research question in more detail: In an attempt to create a more Circular Economy, what can chemical recycling in the form of pyrolysis offer? To answer this relatively broad question more specifically, two sub-research questions have emerged: (1) What qualifies pyrolysis processes to be classified as circular? and (2) What is holding companies back from pursuing larger-scale implementation of the pyrolysis technology? The first part of the work provides an overview through literature research of the concept of Circular Economy, selected critical aspects of it, as well as an insight into plastic waste management and an in-depth examination of the functioning of chemical recycling in general and pyrolysis processes in particular. Subsequently, in the empirical part, the current implementation status is exploratively recorded with the help of expert interviews, targeted research, and statements from companies in the pyrolysis industry. On the one hand, the result presents a screenshot of the current efforts to bring pyrolysis processes to market and, on the other hand, an overview of the hurdles that still need to be overcome before wide spread implementation is possible. These barriers are divided into five dimensions, namely technological, environmental, legal, economicand logistical. According to the analysis, pyrolysis can be classified as an initiative within the Circular Economy, as it pursues the goal of keeping materials in the loop with clear parallels to the general discourse on the concept. Nevertheless, in practice,the technology remains in its infancy and struggles to deliver on its high expectations.