The plastics ecosystem is firmly on a transition where
companies design out waste, keep resources in use as long as
possible, extract the maximum value while in use, then recover and
regenerate valuable products and materials at the end of life.
Moreover, this transition is taking place within the broader
structural shifts of energy transition as fuels demand peaks,
raising the plastics demand risk profile and bringing forward
challenges to balance emissions with circular plastics end of life
goals.
The plastics transition to circularity raises critical
questions that must be addressed through common goals and
standards, with supporting data to determine the best path
forward.
1. How do companies understand and sort through
the complex interplay between production and recycling economics,
emissions, societal needs, and resources?
2. To what degree and at what pace will
post-consumer recycling infrastructure and technology scale and
accelerate to meet targets?
3. What is the potential for any unintended
consequences of regulations and policies along the entire value
chain?
4. How will economics for circularity be
developed and what role will policy play?
5. How do companies define their competitive
position in a circular environment?