- Home
- About
Economic Reports
The CIA gathers industry insights through a quarterly business survey to advocate for our members’ interests with policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders.
Read more
- Our focus
Sustainable Health Metrics 2024
The CIA is proud to announce the launch of the new Sustainable Health Metrics Tool.
Read more
- The Chemical Industry
The Chemical Industry
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is fundamental to modern society. With an immense variety of products, from vital medicines and foods, the construction of buildings, to transport and leisure, the industry truly does have an impact on virtually every aspect of our daily lives.
Read more
- Events
- News
- Become a member
Chemical recycling in the UK
The UK’s chemical sector is at the heart of our net-zero ambitions, enabling a sustainable future through innovation and advanced recycling.
With 96% of manufactured goods relying on chemical processes, the sector’s impact on sustainability is critical. Though traditionally high-emission, it now leads the way in cutting emissions and advancing a circular economy.
Key Benefits
Reduces waste and emissions
Prevents plastics from being sent to landfiell or incineration, directly loweing greenhouse gas emissions.
Supports circular economy
Transforms plastic waste into a continuous resource, reducing dependence on fossil-based materials.
Complements traditional recycling
Addresses the limitations of traditional recylcing, enabling high-quality recycling of complex plastics.
Chemical recycling vs mechanical recycling
CIA view chemical recycling as a complementary, not competitive, technology to traditional mechanical recycling. It should be seen as part of the wider recycling picture below mechanical recycling in a waste hierarchy which prioritises a reduction in production and consumption.
Unlike mechanical recycling, chemical recycling enables complex materials, including films and flexibles which must be collected by local authorities by March 2027, to be recycled while producing a higher grade of recycled plastic. This technology bridges gaps left by mechanical recycling, handling mixed plastic waste streams, multi-layered products, and contaminated plastics, such as food container films.
While chemical recycling offers these advantages, advancing mechanical recycling remains crucial. Enhanced collection and sorting systems are essential to improve recycling rates. In 2021, 833,000 tonnes of plastic went uncollected for recycling, according to the RECOUP 2022 Household Waste Collection Survey, ending up in landfills or energy recovery facilities. Investing in robust systems reduces contamination, lowers processing costs, and creates higher-quality recyclables, ultimately benefiting both mechanical and advanced recycling by providing better-quality feedstock.
Together, mechanical and chemical recycling pave the way for greater reuse and recycling, keeping plastic waste out of landfills and incinerators. Chemical recycling substitutes fossil feedstocks with recycled materials, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the UK’s climate and nature goals.
CIA’s position
CIA are very supportive of mass balance. We believe the UK should adopt a third-party certified mass balance approach, using the fuel exempt allocation method for calculating the recycled content in chemically recycled plastic. We are of the opinion that this should be extended to all plastic products and that mass balance should be technology neutral. There must be a level playing field for all recycling options, with chemical recycling regarded a complementary technology to mechanical recycling. Chemical recycling can increase rates of recyclability, contributing to the advancement of a circular economy for plastics in the UK, driving inward investment and reducing greenhouse gases.
More Information
Plastic Packaging
The government published its response to the PPT consultation, announcing the adoption of an independently certified mass balance approach for calculating recycled content in plastic packaging. This has been a key ask in the CIA’s advocacy efforts over the past year, and we are pleased to see the government implement this crucial policy tool to promote chemical recycling in the UK, aiding both our sector’s and broader manufacturing net-zero goals.
CIA’s position statement
Chemical recycling has the potential to significantly boost recyclability rates and accelerate the shift toward a circular economy for plastics. This would not only attract inward investment but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Chemical recycling can increase rates of recyclability, contributing to the advancement of a circular economy for plastics in the UK, driving inward investment and reducing greenhouse gases.
