Sustainability is on a roll: creating a circular economy for a greener future

Contract Services

22nd December 2024

With a growing population and dwindling natural resources, the implementation of efficient and sustainable processes is vital to meet human needs while also protecting the planet and the welfare of its inhabitants.

Whether feeling the pressure from legislation, customers or end-consumers, many companies across different industries are implementing initiatives that align with green chemistry principles¹. These principles aim to protect and benefit the economy, people and the planet by encouraging creative and innovative ways to reduce waste, conserve energy and discover replacements for hazardous substances.

This drive for sustainability is reshaping the performance chemicals industry, particularly evidenced by a fivefold increase in sustainability-related projects by chemical companies and their customers over the last five years. Despite concerns, the demand for chemicals is likely to increase in a net-zero future, not drop, presenting new opportunities for growth². In fact, the industry is supporting more than 75% of all emissions reduction technologies needed to meet net-zero goals by 2050, from electric vehicle batteries to wind turbine lubricants³.

However, on top of increased demand, chemical companies are already tackling tighter profit margins and an uncertain economic landscape. Adding mandatory sustainability regulation into the mix may have many questioning what the future of the industry will look like.

The shift toward more sustainable industries will have its challenges, from reducing steps in the creation of complex products to minimising the use of scarce resources, but through collaboration and innovation, companies are finding ways to create a circular economy that reuses, refurbishes and remanufactures throughout the supply chain.

Implementing greener technologies and processes today means meeting the demands of consumers, getting ahead of competition and managing expected future legislation, all while contributing to a safer and more sustainable planet.

Reacting to the challenge with green chemistry

The concept of green chemistry was developed to reduce the impact of human activity on the planet and ensure the well-being of humans and animals. The 12 principles of green chemistry, which were developed in 1998, range from waste prevention and energy efficiency to the design and creation of safer chemicals and solvents⁴. By implementing these into chemical processes, it is believed that human needs can still be met without causing unintended harm.

The green chemistry principles have already taken root in many industries.

Bioengineering practices, such as enzyme engineering, are being used to support the switch from fossil fuel-based materials to renewable bio-derived fuels and chemicals, requiring interdisciplinary collaboration between chemistry and biology.
A growing population needs feeding and the use of trehalose in food products is allowing for extended shelf life to reduce waste.
Aside from manufacturing, in-use solutions are helping end-consumers make greener choices, such as shampoos that require less water to rinse off.

When suppliers, manufacturers and end-users take part in green chemistry initiatives, a circular economy can be created that spans the entire supply chain.

Collaboration through a circular economy

Supply chains in various industries have, until recently, been predominantly linear, with low reuse and recycling rates and significant waste generation. A circular economy is a model of production and consumption that encourages the use of resources for as long as possible, from sustainable sourcing to reusing resources and waste products⁵.

Creating a circular economy requires collaboration, with the input of innovators, governments and end-consumers needed to make it work. As such, companies are increasingly partnering with suppliers and manufacturers who demonstrate similar values, providing products and services that align with green chemistry principles.

The road ahead may seem daunting, as processes and partnerships shift to new ways of working, but with consumer expectations and new legislative and regulatory demands, the time to begin thinking about the future is today.

The driving factors of a more sustainable future

In some industries, consumer expectations are leading the sustainability shift as a need for transparency increases⁶. This is especially true in personal care and cosmetics, where historical changes, such as removing animal testing and the introduction of ‘free-from’ trends, have been driven by public demand⁷.

Recognising the growing expectations from consumers for transparency and sustainability, companies and associations across the personal care industry joined forces in the EcoBeautyScore Consortium. The consortium aims to develop a scoring system that takes into account the full life cycle of a cosmetic product, from creation to disposal. This allows consumers to compare the environmental impact of the products they choose⁸.

Similar industrial collaboration has been seen with initiatives such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This scheme encourages and supports conversation between organisations and the public, encouraging companies to take responsibility in sustainable sourcing⁹.

Consumer expectations are less of a pressure in other industries, such as process chemicals. However, companies will need to adapt to new legislation and regulatory demands.

Packaging is a topic that will be all too familiar to many across a wide range of industries. Legislation around packaging is regularly changing and evolving across the globe. In the UK, for example, a tax is now applied to all plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30% recycled material¹⁰. Similarly, restrictions and bans on single-use plastic continue to be adopted across US states and Europe. The signing of the United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution is expected to happen by the end of 2024.

These regulatory demands not only encourage the use of recycled packaging, but also reduced packaging and single material packaging for simplified recycling. From these changes, innovative solutions are being born. In the paint industry, for example, blending in-store is becoming more and more popular in an attempt to save on packaging and storage.

Some legislation is taking longer to be implemented. The Cosmetics Products Regulation (CPR), which is to be revised in 2025, looks to ban persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals in cosmetics, or ingredients that impact reproductive or endocrine systems.

While consumer and legislative demands can appear to be a burden, the creation of a circular economy can, by its very nature, be financially beneficial. With a call for more efficient processes, less waste and the reusing of materials, operating expenditures can be lowered. Some companies may choose the ‘wait and see’ option when it comes to implementing sustainable processes and meeting regulations, but those looking to achieve a competitive edge will see the opportunity that comes with being prepared.

Challenges of a circular economy: finding a way around

Despite the benefits of a circular economy, from financial gains to enhanced welfare of humans and animals, there are various logistical obstacles to its implementation.

Global standardisation: As with many laws and legislations, recycling regulations vary country-to-country. With limited standardisation, certain initiatives struggle to be as effective as they could be. For example, despite the efforts gone into encouraging recycling, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally ¹¹.

Global policy changes are likely needed to enable the shift to a circular and net-zero future. These policies would need to incentivise recycling activity globally while limiting any negative impact on countries’ economies and people. Furthermore, global standards and accreditations would be needed to accurately measure and report on sustainability.

Collection difficulties: Even when initiatives are in place, the collection of certain items, such as old mobile phones or cosmetic packaging, can be difficult. This is often due to impracticality for end-consumers, where throwing items away is often easier than cleaning recyclable material and finding a suitable drop-off location. As with global standardisation, incentivised recycling may be a solution.

One way to overcome the challenges of limited packaging recycling is to remove packaging in the first place. In personal care, for example, there is a growing and evolving trend of waterless and tableted formulations that require little packaging or multi-functional formulations to limit the need for multiple products¹². There has also been the introduction of advanced natural films, such as SILAFILM®, that support the release and delivery of active ingredients into the skin while also being biodegradable¹³.

Innovation may also be the answer for electrical equipment, where small parts may be difficult to separate. Engineers may look to AI and robotics to break down, sort and reuse resources.

Performance: Unfortunately, items made from recycled resources may not always perform as intended. Recycled paper, for example, is not as strong as paper made from virgin pulp. Similarly, there are companies that can recycle paint, but achieving purity of colour is challenging¹⁴.

While some performance issues can be overlooked for sustainability, there are times where it cannot. The interlayer adhesive used in laminate glass windscreens can be recycled. However, the challenge is then meeting the purity requirements needed to manufacture glass with adequate clarity. Purity and safety must be considered in many industries, including products for human use such as contact lenses and cosmetics.

Expenses: The cost of recycling and the energy needed can, in some situations, make it seem not worth doing at all. However, sometimes recycling can be a more efficient route to create a product¹⁵. In the case of microemulsion CHT-BeauSil™ RE-AMO 919 EM, silicone elastomer from products such as dummies is reworked to make silicone feedstock. This is then utilised to produce a high performance hair conditioner, overcoming the initial energy burden of extracting silicone metal from sand, as well as reducing waste.

A greener future will require continued innovation, with engineers and scientists finding new and niche ways to limit and reuse materials.

The future of green chemistry

For companies looking to make a shift toward greener processes, investment decisions in the next few years will be of the utmost importance, determining the trajectory of industries during a critical time of change. Companies able to keep up with the sustainability transition have the opportunity to reach new heights and find new opportunities.

However, the implementation of green chemistry and a circular economy requires co-ordinated action by individuals, companies, governments and industries. As the demands and regulations for green chemistry grow, collaborating with experts is vital to get ahead of competition and manage future challenges.

References

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