Circular economy policies mainly target waste management, but these is much that scientific research and innovation can offer. Product design, including appropriate use of feedstocks and combinations of materials massively helps reduce waste and maintain the value of materials.

1. @GreenChemYork
Circular Economy in the Chemical
Industry
James Sherwood
james.sherwood@york.ac.uk

2. @GreenChemYork
Current progress in the EU
January 2018
The European Commission adopted a
new set of measures, including a
‘monitoring framework’.
1. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm
2. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3846_en.htm
May 2018
Legislation approved to introduce
stricter recycling targets, e.g. 65%
of municipal waste by 2035 (EU).2
December 2015
EU Circular Economy proposal
published. Promotes waste
reduction and recycling.1
January 2017
Report on the implementation of
the Circular Economy Action Plan
published.
*China has been doing this since 2006.
*

3. @GreenChemYork
Monitoring framework
1. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/circular-economy/indicators/monitoring-framework
1
Production and consumption Secondary raw materials
Raw material self-sufficiency Contribution of recycled materials
to raw materials demand
Green public procurement
Waste generation Trade in recyclable raw materials
Food waste
Waste management Competitiveness and innovation
Recycling rates (general) Investment, jobs, and GVA
Recycling rates (specific streams) Topical patents
These metrics are pitched at a national level. Ideally they prompt
action by government policy makers and industries.

4. @GreenChemYork
Monitoring framework

5. @GreenChemYork
Chemists’ role in the circular
economy
We got on the bandwagon quickly… …reviewers hated it

6. @GreenChemYork
State-of-the-art
Innovation:
• Industrial waste and heat exchange programs and shared logistics.
• Polymer additives for better performance from recycled plastics.
• Product design (e.g. reversible carpet adhesive).
Business as usual:
• General efficiencies saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions.
Biomass feedstocks:
• BASF mass balance allocation.
• Sustainable certification for SABIC petrochemical polyolefins.
Metrics, of a sort
LCA

7. @GreenChemYork
Chemistry metrics
https://www.basf.com/en/company/sustainability/environment/resources-and-
ecosystems/renewable-raw-materials/biomass-balance.html
BASF mass balance allocation (TÜV SÜD certified)
Mass balance approach allocating bio-based content via energy equivalents to products.

8. @GreenChemYork
Recirculated Returned to use within a certain timeframe by an anthropogenic
process and/or a natural process.
Reusable Returned to use without modification to the parent article or
loss of performance.
Recyclable Returned to use by an anthropogenic process.
Renewable Comes from renewable resources and is returned to use by a
natural process.
Chemistry metrics (UoY)
J. Sherwood et al., Molecules, 2017, 22, 48.

9. @GreenChemYork
Fossil reserves
Not recirculated
Bio-based carbon
Fossil carbon
C
C
Sustainability criteria (EN 16751)
Bio-based content
(EN 16640)
Biomass sustainability
(e.g. PEFC ST 1003) &
waste feedstocks
(e.g. ISCC PLUS 260-05)
End-of-life options:
•Mechanical recycling
•Chemical recycling
•Biodegradation
Vertical
standards
(e.g. EN
16766)
and
ecolabels
C
C
renew loop
recycle loop
reuse loop

10. @GreenChemYork
Fossil carbon
not allowed to
be decomposed
into CO2
Litter/pollution
prevention
J. Sherwood et al., Molecules, 2017, 22, 48.
Reusable
Recyclable
Renewable

11. @GreenChemYork
Biomass utilisation efficiency (BUE): The percentage of biomass feedstock ending
up in the end product (theoretical molar basis).
BUEH: BUE multiplied by
highest published yield.
(there is also an energy-
equivalents version)
http://bio-based.eu/nova-papers/#top
Chemistry metrics (UoY)

12. @GreenChemYork

13. @GreenChemYork
Is any of this sustainable?
It is important is consider economic sustainability. ‘Waste’ needs to be valuable. Products
made from waste need to be more profitable than those made from raw materials. This is
only true if product design allows it.
Profit
Recycled
product
Recyclate
Product
Raw
material