Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns is a critical global challenge as the demand for natural resources continues to rise at an alarming rate. Global raw material consumption is projected to increase by a further 60% by 2060, driven by urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth. This surge in resource use is responsible for 90% of terrestrial biodiversity loss, 60% of global heating impacts, and 40% of air pollution, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Resources Outlook.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, responsible consumption and production, emphasises the need to reduce waste generation, improve resource efficiency, and promote sustainable practices across industries. Achieving this goal requires innovative approaches to improve recyclability while also minimising the environmental impact of materials such as plastics.
In the following blog post, we explore research from European Commission-funded projects that address key aspects of SDG 12.
Impact of recyclability on the tensile and Impact properties of coated plastic materials for the automotive and electronic sectors
Plastics are among the most relevant materials worldwide due to their unique combination of properties, including chemical resistance, ease of processing, low cost, and potential for lightweighting. These properties enable them to be used in a variety of key components across sectors such as construction, architecture, cushioning, electronics, aeronautics, and automotive. On top of that, the growing use of plastic materials increases post-consumer plastic waste, raising concerns about its management and recycling techniques. According to a new report, only about 9% of collected plastic waste is recycled, while 22% is mismanaged globally. The automotive and electronic industries manufacture key products that use large amounts of plastic, including acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).
Although ABS can be recycled through thermal or mechanical methods, many plastics used in the automotive and electronic sectors are coated with paints and varnishes to improve appearance and resistance to external agents. The application of coatings adds an additional step in the recycling process, as the coating must be separated from the component. To achieve this, solvents are often used, and some coatings remain throughout the recycling process, reducing the plastic’s purity. These impurities can decrease the mechanical properties of the recycled plastic, such as impact resistance and ductility. A Case Study from Horizon 2020-funded researchers, investigates the tensile and impact properties of ABS and its blends with polycarbonate (ABS/PC), focusing on the effects of reprocessing cycles and residual coatings on recycled materials. It finds that impurities from coatings significantly reduce impact resistance, with losses of up to 42% for ABS and 28% for ABS/PC, underscoring the need for effective coating removal systems to enhance recyclability in high-tech applications.
Application of a practical methodology for the selection of suitable value chains to produce circular fertilisers from secondary raw materials
The rising demand for food products, fuelled by a growing global population, has increased Europe’s dependence on traditional fertilisers, with significant environmental consequences. In the past decade, innovative circular fertiliser value chains have emerged as viable alternatives. Unlike conventional fertilisers produced through synthetic manufacturing methods from raw materials such as air, natural gas, and mineral ores, circular fertilisers often utilise secondary raw materials such as wastewater and biowaste.
This Method Article outlines a practical approach for identifying and choosing promising circular fertiliser value chains from secondary resources, aiming to reduce Europe’s reliance on conventional fertilisers. When tested across 48 value chains, the method identified seven promising options for agricultural use, including struvite derived from urban and industrial wastewater and composted biowaste.
ROOTS – Circular policies for changing the biowaste system
The circular economy has significant potential to make our societies more sustainable and decarbonised, with reduced impact on the planet’s resources.
This Open Letter outlines the ROOTS initiative, which aims to promote innovative solutions for the valorisation and reuse of urban biowaste within the European circular bioeconomy, addressing barriers such as technological readiness and regulatory challenges. Five Horizon 2020 projects teamed up to transform biowaste into valuable products, while identifying bottlenecks and proposing policy recommendations and best practices to facilitate this transition.
Discover further research from authors related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the Sustainable Development Community Gateway on Open Research Europe.
