The Impact of Waste Plastic and the Role of Recycling Plastic in Reducing its Negative Impact towards Achieving a Net-Zero Society: A Case Study of Plastecowood

The aim of this research is to improve the understanding on the role of recycling in achieving Net Zero goals pursued in the United Kingdom in the backdrop of the wider sustainability agenda. To achieve the aim of the study data was gathered on the company Plastecowood. Ten secondary internet sources and press releases about the company that discuss the dimensions covered by the research questions in regard to plastic recycling and other secondary data were utilized. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using NVivo software revealing important themes in the findings. Firstly, the analysis of this study found that Plastecowood contributed significantly towards Net Zero targets by trapping carbon emissions within their recycled products. Secondly Plastecowood reduced the health hazards associated with carbon emissions to the members of society. Thirdly there was a need to target certain elements when managing waste through recycling. A practical implication of this study is the averment that current recycling practices do not have the capacity to meet Net Zero goals and thus the need for stakeholders to find better efficient ways. Recycling of plastic should focus in producing high-quality recyclates and target strategic elements of the plastic value chain to achieve net zero goals.