Plastics is an important class of materials, bringing many social and economic benefits. Global production of plastics reached 380Mt in 2018 (a 20-fold increase since the 1960s) and its further growth is expected. Due to the long decomposition time and low recycling rates (<30%), large quantities of plastics are accumulated in the natural environments and landfills, overuse of fossil feedstocks, as well as damage to the environment, human health and economic loss. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world, leaving significant consequences. One such serious problem is the pollution caused by plastic waste - face masks and packaging waste. The idea of the project is to minimise the mentioned negative impacts and maximise the economic value of plastics use via economically and environmentally optimal increase of the circularity and the entire plastics value chains. The degrees of freedom to exploit include Industrial Symbiosis, material and chemical recycling. The criterion of Plastic Waste Footprint will be developed for the evaluation of the plastic materials impact.

Keywords
Plastic Value Chain;Raw Materials;Sustainable Energy;Plastic Waste Recovery;Degradation;Environmental Footprints;COVID-19 plastic waste

21-45726L

English

Klemeš Jiří, prof. Ing. Dr. habil., DrSc., dr. h. c. - principal person responsible
Varbanov Petar Sabev, prof. Ing. Dr. habil., Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Arsenyeva Olga, prof., DSc., Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Fan Yee Van, M.Phil., Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Hemzal Milan, Ing. - fellow researcher
JIA Xuexiu, MSc, Ph.D. - fellow researcher
Kapustenko Petro, prof. - fellow researcher
Martincová Jana Victoria, Ing., Ph.D., LL.M. - fellow researcher
Si Chunyan, MSc - fellow researcher

Sustainable process integration laboratory
- responsible department (11.2.2021 - not assigned)
Sustainable process integration laboratory
- beneficiary (11.2.2021 - not assigned)

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Jiang, Peng; Zhang, Lei; You, Siming; Van Fan, Yee; Tan, Raymond R.; Klemes, Jirf Jaromfr; You, Fengqi. Blockchain technology applications in waste management: Overview, challenges and opportunities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, no. 421, ISSN: 0959-6526.
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Plohl, Olivija; Erjavec, Alen; Zemljic, Lidija Fras; Vesel, Alenka; Colnik, Maja; Skerget, Mojca; Van Fan, Yee; Cucek, Lidija; Trimmel, Gregor; Valh, Julija Volmajer. Morphological, surface and thermal properties of polylactic acid foils, melamine-etherified resin, and polyethylene terephthalate fabric during (bio)degradation in soil. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, no. 421, ISSN: 0959-6526.
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Potrč, S., Nemet, A., Čuček, L., Varbanov, P.S., Kravanja, Z. Synthesis of a regenerative energy system – beyond carbon emissions neutrality. RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS, 2022, no. 169, ISSN: 1364-0321.
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Plohl, O., Sep, N., Fras Zemljič, L., Vujanovic, A., Čolnik, M., Fan, Y.V., Škerget, M., Klemeš, J.J., Čuček, L., Volmajer Valh, J. Fragmentation of Disposed Plastic Waste Materials in Different Aquatic Environments. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2022, no. 94, p. 1249-1254. ISSN: 2283-9216.
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Petrovič A., Čolnik M., Prša A., Fan Y.V., Škerget M., Željko K., Klemeš J.J., Čuček L. Comparative Analysis of Virgin and Recycled Thermoplastic Polymer based on Thermochemical Characteristics. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2022, no. 94, p. 1321-1326. ISSN: 2283-9216.
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Varbanov, P.S., Chin, H.H., Klemeš, J.J., Cucek, L. Sustainability of a Plastic Recycling/Symbiosis Network via Energy Quality Pinch Analysis. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2022, no. 94, p. 97-102. ISSN: 2283-9216.
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Fan, Y.V., Cucek, L., Klemeš, J.J., Vujanovic, A., Varbanov, P.S. Life Cycle Assessment Approaches of Plastic Recycling with Multiple Cycles: Mini Review. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2022, no. 94, p. 85-90. ISSN: 2283-9216.
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Tan, R.,R., Aviso, K.B., Jiang, P., Fan, Y.V., Varbanov, P.S., Klemeš, J.J. Pinch-Based Synthesis of Plastics Recycling Networks. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2022, no. 94, p. 49-54. ISSN: 2283-9216.
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Responsibility: Klemeš Jiří, prof. Ing. Dr. habil., DrSc., dr. h. c.