In mid-April, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a new report on the chemical safety of recycled plastics published.
„Plastics are versatile materials that are used in numerous applications and industries and offer many benefits to society. Plastics can contain thousands of different chemical substances, including some that are of particular concern and can have negative effects on human health and the environment if not handled properly. Identifying these substances becomes even more challenging when materials are recycled, as chemical information along the value chains may be incomplete or lost, and new impurities, degradation products or reaction products may be generated during use and recycling,“ the paper states.
The report provides an overview of the chemical aspects incorporated into standards, certifications and quality control measures for recycled plastics and examines analytical techniques used to characterise the chemical content of secondary materials. It goes on to say: Overall, ensuring chemical safety in recycled plastics requires an integrated approach that combines harmonised international standards, robust analytical techniques, chemical traceability systems, economic incentives and research collaboration. Together, these elements can support a safe and sustainable circular economy while maximising recycling rates.
