Plastic recycling by Lotte Chemicals

The world has been continuously producing plastics for packaging, consumer goods, building and construction, cars and lorries, electrical and electronic equipment, and agriculture. Europe has already produced 58 million tons of plastic and 25 million tons of plastic waste whereby only 30% is being recycled, 39% is incinerated, and 31% is in landfills. 

Our partner Lotte Chemicals has decided to make a change and actively manage and implement a sustainable management strategy. The strategy is a response to climate change while simultaneously boosting the demand for recycled plastic. In order to achieve this vision, Lotte Chemicals introduced two methods that they have been using for recycling plastics, mechanical recycling and chemical recycling. 

Mechanical recycling method: ABS, ABS/PET, and HIPS 

The process of mechanical recycling starts with washing, grinding and sorting post-consumer waste. This is turned into raw materials for recycling such as high-purity flakes.  The next step is an extrusion with a mix of recycled and virgin material.  The mechanically recycled material will be applicable in appliances, fuse boxes and various other E&E applications. 

Chemical recycling method: MABS 

With Chemical recycling you convert, and collect, the recycled polymers, for example PMMA, into monomers, for example MMA, which is in the case of Lotte Chemicals compounded into MABS. A great advantage that comes from this recycling method is that MABS has an excellent transparency, high impact strength, good stiffness and good resistance to chemicals. In addition, these recycled materials are applicable in various domestic goods, cosmetic packaging, leisure, and sports. 

Interested what this sustainable solution could mean for your products? 

De Monchy is pleased to represent a producer like Lotte Chemicals with their aim to decrease their carbon footprint by evaluating their product life cycle and implementing these two recycling methods. Contact our Lotte Chemicals specialist Paul Hendriks for more information and what it could mean for your products.