Procter & Gamble (P&G) and DOW have teamed up to develop a new process for recovering high-quality polyethylene (PE) from plastic waste that is difficult to recycle. The companies are combining their expertise in dissolution recycling, large-scale manufacturing, and materials science to create this innovative technology.
The joint development agreement between DOW and P&G is aimed at recovering PE from post-household plastic waste, including rigid, flexible, and multi-layer packaging. P&G plans to incorporate the recovered material into new packaging, promoting circularity and maximizing the use of resources.
Dissolution recycling involves using a solvent to separate a specific polymer from impurities in complex plastic materials. In this collaboration, the focus is on PE, which can be extracted and used in new applications once separated from the waste material.
The partners are working towards creating a process with lower emissions compared to traditional PE production methods and alternative advanced recycling technologies. The collaboration has already started and will continue until the technology is ready for commercialization.
This innovation aims to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste by turning it into valuable resources that can be reused in various industries. It also demonstrates the importance of collaboration between different stakeholders in addressing complex challenges such as plastics pollution.
