Plastic Bottle Cap Recycling—Characterization of Recyclate Composition and Opportunities for Design for Circularity

Markus Gall, Andrea Schweighuber, Wolfgang Buchberger and Reinhold W. Lang
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Markus Gall: Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
Andrea Schweighuber: Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
Wolfgang Buchberger: Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
Reinhold W. Lang: Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: In line with efforts to create a circular economy of plastics, recent EU legislation is strengthening plastic bottle recycling by ambitious separate collection targets and mandatory recycled content obligations. Furthermore, explicit design requirements on the caps of bottles and composite beverage packaging have been introduced. These caps are typically made of polyethylene or polypropylene and often contain additives such as slip agents and anti-statics. Commercially available bottle cap recyclates (BCRs) as well as specifically formulated model compounds were analyzed in terms of composition by means of infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Their composition was found to be heterogeneous due to polyolefin cross-contamination, directly reflecting the diversity of cap materials present in the market. Slip agent legacy additives originating from the initial use phase were found and quantified in both commercial and model cap recyclates. This highlights the opportunity for redesigning plastic bottle caps not only in response to regulatory requirements, but to pursue a more comprehensive strategy of product design for circularity. By including considerations of polymer resin and additive choice in cap manufacturing, more homogeneous waste streams could be derived from plastic bottle cap recycling, enabling recycling into more demanding and valuable applications.

Keywords: circular economy; design for circularity; EU policy; legacy additives; mechanical recycling; plastic bottle cap; polyethylene; polypropylene; single-use plastics directive; slip agent (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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