Plastiloop is an innovative project that aims to solve the plastic problem. Can you tell us what exactly Plastiloop is and what are the main objectives of this project?
Veolia sells recycled plastics all around the world, through its industrial brand PlastiLoop.
PlastiLoop is not only a brand, it is a global ecosystem of 4 key pillars interacting with each other to contribute to grow a truly impacting circular economy of plastics, to the benefit of our planet.
One identity , One common language supported by a structured product range , One coordinated market & customer approach supported by industrial processes , One common circular ambition shared with our customers.
What plastic recycling technologies are used in the Plastiloop project? Are they innovative technologies that differ from traditional plastic processing methods?
PlastiLoop project encompasses the full extent of the recycling activity, from feedstock sourcing to plastic pellets selling but also operating and maintaining a process with skilled operators. The recycling includes the full scope of operations from the feeding point to the final extrusion through intensive mechanical and optical sorting of plastic containers for example, washing and then optical flake sorting to reach the highest purity level. Our internal laboratories are equipped the best available technologies to monitor the quality of our production and ensure our customers of the safety they deserve.
Does the Plastiloop project face any particular difficulties in Europe, in the context of different waste and recycling regulations? What legislative changes do you see as crucial for the project to move forward?
As explained earlier Veolia and its PlastiLoop activity are acting for many years in different regulatory environments and they are used to it as it is a part of its NDA. In terms of legislative approach, we are strongly advocating for a constant increase of recycled product content within the final product to make recycled products somehow decoupled from alternative virgin material. This will foster collection, sorting and recycling activities. In addition to this pull, we know there needs to be also a push to more sustainable waste treatment modes which would not aim at material or energy recovery.
Plastic recycling is one of the biggest challenges of today's circular economy. What are the biggest difficulties you are facing with the Plastiloop project?
The biggest difficulties are directly linked to risk management. High volatility of virgin material as well as legal uncertainties which induce a very low level of visibility for any reasonable investor. This is why we strongly advocate for minimum recycled content requirement to decouple as much as possible the price of recycled material from virgin.
As any activity linked to sales of material and not services PlastiLoop needs to develop a wide customer portfolio and if possible build long term partnership to secure the investment decision, on top of this customer portfolio it is also critical to secure feedstock to be able to produce what our customers are asking for. This requires also to install very flexible processes to adapt the settings to allow a large spectrum of feedstock quality but still serve our offtakers specifications for the final products. Finding the right combination of feedstock / process / final products is where PlastiLoop brings its full potential.
Finally, what would you like to pass on to other companies and organisations that are just beginning their journey towards sustainability? What steps can they take to make an effective contribution to environmental protection?
Start small, be flexible, be patient but focused on the target, embark all stakeholders, this has to be seen as a partnership, it takes time to establish but it is the condition to make it last.
