Plastic waste is a global concern, and Europe is taking a bold step to tackle it with new regulations. As the push to recycle more plastic grows, Aduro Clean Technologies is innovating how plastic is recycled.
By 2030, the PPWR wants every piece of packaging on the market in the EU to be recyclable—and not just in theory, but in a way that’s truly economically viable. The regulation also prioritizes waste prevention and reuse before recycling, emphasizing the need for packaging reduction alongside improved recycling technologies. This change is anticipated to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing reliance on virgin plastic production and improving recycling efficiency. While chemical recycling has the potential to contribute to emissions reductions, its full environmental impact depends on process efficiency, energy sources, and integration into existing recycling infrastructure.
While mechanical recycling has traditionally been at the forefront of plastic recycling efforts, it has its limitations, especially when dealing with complex or contaminated plastic waste streams. This is where innovative advanced recycling technologies (sometimes referred to as chemical recycling and molecular recycling) come into play. Chemical recycling breaks down plastic waste into its original chemical components, allowing for the recovery and reuse of materials that have proven challenging to process mechanically.
At Aduro Clean Technologies, we have developed a patented, water-based process known as Hydrochemolytic™ Technology (HCT). Our process uses unique chemistry to break down hard-to-recycle plastics, transforming them into valuable chemical building blocks that can be reused in plastic manufacturing. These developments are on the forefront of advancing environmentally friendly methods of transforming plastic waste into high-quality feedstock. HCT offers material and energy efficiency, tolerance for mixed plastic waste, and a shorter processing pathway, reducing costly pre- and post-treatment steps, and helping drive a more circular economy model of production and consumption.
Despite its potential, the economic viability of chemical recycling remains a challenge, and its role within the PPWR framework remains unclear, presenting obstacles for widespread adoption and investment. Aduro Clean Technologies fully supports the harmonization of plastic recycling and plastics manufacturing practices across EU member states and emphasizes the need for regulatory clarity. The European Commission's forthcoming guidelines on calculation and verification, expected by the end of 2026, will be pivotal in determining the role of chemical recycling within the PPWR framework.
For Europe to achieve its ambitious recycling targets, it is essential to recognize that mechanical and chemical recycling are complementary solutions—both requiring significant investment, supportive policies, and infrastructure development to increase plastic recovery beyond the current 10% rate. Mechanical recycling remains the backbone of plastic recycling efforts, while chemical recycling plays a critical role in processing materials that are unsuitable for mechanical methods, such as multi-layer plastics and contaminated waste streams.
By scaling up both mechanical and chemical recycling, the EU can address a broader spectrum of plastic waste, ensuring that more materials are effectively recovered and reintroduced into the economy. Technologies like Aduro’s Hydrochemolytic™ Technology contribute to this effort by enabling the production of high-quality recycled content suitable for applications such as food-contact packaging and hard-to-recycle plastics like polyolefins (PP, PE) and polystyrene. A well-integrated approach leveraging both recycling methods is essential to achieving the PPWR’s scale, quality, and sustainability goals.
As Europe moves toward harmonized recycling targets, it is imperative that policymakers, recyclers, and industry stakeholders work together to create a framework that acknowledges the full spectrum of advanced plastic recycling technologies, ensuring both effectiveness and affordability in achieving circularity.
The future of chemical recycling isn’t just promising—it’s necessary. At Aduro, we're committed to collaborating with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and recyclers to create clear policies that support chemical recycling innovation. By doing so, we can collectively drive Europe toward a more sustainable and circular packaging future. Let’s rethink plastic waste together, and transform it into something valuable.
