Fraunhofer CCPE Position Papers
Position papers have a central function in both science and business. They serve as strategic documents to formulate positions, demands and action recommendations and communicate them specifically to relevant actors. In the circular economy field, they can play a decisive role in providing more overview and transparency due to topic complexity.
Position Paper on Challenges and Requirements in Life Cycle Assessment for Plastic Recycling | 2024
In a current position paper, Fraunhofer CCPE researchers have identified ten challenges and requirements that increase comparability and transparency in ecological assessment of plastic recycling.
The authors point out that comparative life cycle assessments depend on various boundary conditions and assumptions. Checking logical contradictions in assumptions is a main requirement for meaningful comparisons. Inconsistent and/or insufficiently documented life cycle assessment studies can lead to misinterpretations. Authors see further challenges in dealing with various technology routes and scales as well as complexity of mixed waste recycling routes. Different waste origins and co-collected contaminants influence recyclate quality – and must be considered in accounting. Furthermore, it is important at methodological level to improve modeling approaches regarding multifunctionality and system boundaries. Comparing different recycling processes and virgin material with recyclates is challenging as they have different functionalities. Overall, there is still a lack of methodological consensus to obtain robust and comparable life cycle assessment results.
More information can be found here:
Position Paper »Recycling Technologies for Plastics« | 2021
The position paper provides an overview of material and feedstock (chemical) processing technologies for plastics currently under development and not yet state-of-the-art. In particular, so-called chemical recycling processes are categorized. Examined are the technical development status of processes, their advantages and disadvantages, regulatory and legal framework conditions, economic feasibility, and potential for environmental and climate protection. A market overview additionally shows which projects industry is currently running in chemical recycling processes, which waste materials are treated, and what plant capacity is available or planned.
More information can be found here:
https://www.ccpe.fraunhofer.de/de/kompetenzen/circular-logistics-and-sustainability