The list of new and surprising materials being created continues to grow. Every day, the media reports a new advancement: super glues, stain-resistant fabrics, foldable glass, smart paints. Of course, everyone loves a novelty, and many of these discoveries can have important applications. But when a new material (even without the fantastic characteristics of the examples mentioned above) actually reaches the market, the question arises: can it be recycled after use?
Probably a good team of researchers, equipped with a reasonable financial investment, could develop a recycling process specifically for the new material. The problem is whether this new method would be economically and environmentally viable. What are the costs involved? Is it possible to collect and separate this new material effectively after its use? In what quantity? Will toxic waste be generated during recycling? How much energy is required?
Due to all these factors, it is often not worthwhile to create a recycling process exclusive to a single material. On the contrary, a good alternative is to try to utilize an already structured recycling chain, which includes both the recycling process itself and the other necessary steps, such as selective collection and the separation and cleaning of waste. This way, the machinery and know-how of various companies already operating in this sector can be leveraged. Furthermore, the broader the range of post-consumer materials that a recycling company can utilize, the greater the viability of the business, since there are fluctuations in the supply of each material.
Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Each material has unique properties that influence the recycling process. Plastics, for example, cannot be recycled all together as if they were one thing. The result would be disastrous, as each polymer behaves differently. The category of thermoplastics is easily recyclable since they are moldable when heated, and can even go through the process multiple times without significant loss of quality. But this property does not apply to so-called thermosetting plastics, for which there is still no adequate recycling process. For these reasons, it is not always easy to adapt a new material to an already existing recycling chain.
The solution is to anticipate, be strategic, and create new materials that already meet the requirements of existing recycling chains. This is one of the branches of “Ecodesign,” a broader line of thought that seeks to reduce all environmental impacts of a product (or service), from its origin, manufacturing, and transportation, to its final disposal. Currently, this is a major concern for most manufacturers, due to changes in legislation and pressure from consumers who seek more sustainable products.
Indeed, nowadays it is not enough for a material to be potentially recyclable. Equally important is the ability to ensure its post-consumer collection in the places where it is sold, as this is the first step for its effective integration into the recycling chain. This material must also be developed in a way that does not contaminate the existing recycling chains, which would harm the quality of the final products and reduce the number of times they could be recycled again. The ideal material should be able to be recycled indefinitely, without losing its initial characteristics. In other words, the creation of a new material today must be based on a much more holistic approach, concerned with all stages of its life cycle.
References
AMARAL, G. et al (2011) Environmental guide for the plastics transformation and recycling industry. São Paulo: CETESB: SINDIPLAST, 90p. Available at: http://www.cetesb.sp.gov.br/userfiles/guia_ambiental_internet.pdf
UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme (2011) Global guidance principles for lifecycle assessment databases – a basis for greener processes and products. Available at: http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1410xPA-GlobalGuidancePrinciplesforLCA.pdf
