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Measuring the Circularity and Impact Reduction Potential of Post-Industrial and Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Schulte

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany)

  • Benjamin Kampmann

    (Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG Kunststoffwerk-Werkzeugbau, 49393 Lohne, Germany)

  • Christina Galafton

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany)

Abstract

Post-industrial recycling (PIR) and post-consumer recycling (PCR) are measures used to sustain resources by improving material circularity and sustainability. Currently, circularity is mainly measured as the degree of reutilization of a material from 0 to 100% at the product or company level. This measure fails to assess the resource usage over multiple product life cycles. Therefore, we propose to assess circularity as (i) the frequency of resource use in products (effective circularity, eC), and as (ii) a vehicle to reduce environmental impacts (environmentally efficient circularity, eeC). Additionally, to compare the environmental impacts of using recycled materials from PIR or PCR, we analyze their impact reduction potential (IRP), indicating the environmental benefits of recycling in relation to virgin material submitted to the market. We demonstrate the suggested indicators for a case study material: polypropylene. For this polymer type, the eC ranges between 0.93 and 9.08 uses of the resource, on average, depending on collection, sorting, and recycling rates. Likewise, the eeC ranges between 0.31 and 1.50 uses per kg of CO 2 equivalents emitted. PCR has a higher IRP regarding climate change impacts than PIR in all analyzed scenarios. The results reveal the relevance of PCR and PIR beyond the product life cycle. Finally, we discuss possible embeddings of the indicators in the assessment of climate policy and environmental protection measures, such as strengthening the use of PCR in contrast to PIR materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Schulte & Benjamin Kampmann & Christina Galafton, 2023. "Measuring the Circularity and Impact Reduction Potential of Post-Industrial and Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:16:p:12242-:d:1214679
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juana Camacho-Otero & Casper Boks & Ida Nilstad Pettersen, 2018. "Consumption in the Circular Economy: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-25, August.
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    4. Jorge Martínez Leal & Stéphane Pompidou & Carole Charbuillet & Nicolas Perry, 2020. "Design for and from Recycling: A Circular Ecodesign Approach to Improve the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-30, November.
    5. Paul Stegmann & Vassilis Daioglou & Marc Londo & Detlef P. Vuuren & Martin Junginger, 2022. "Plastic futures and their CO2 emissions," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7939), pages 272-276, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Meret Jürgens & Marina Mudersbach & Hans-Josef Endres, 2025. "Circular Economy Implementation for Plastic Products in SMEs: Framework Development and Practical Application in Case Studies," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(5), pages 4629-4658, October.
    2. Adis Puška & Nebojša Kojić & Aleksandra Pavlović & Ranko Bojanić & Ilija Stojanović & Vesna Krpina & Radivoj Prodanović & Miroslav Nedeljković, 2025. "Selection of Green Packaging Suppliers for Circular Economy Needs Using Intuitionistic Fuzzy Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-29, September.

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