NGO says top priorities are to reduce and reuse, and chemical recycling must show verifiable, positive carbon footprint. WWF suggests that chemical recycling should show at least 20% lower GHG emissions than virgin-fossil plastic. WWF also says chemical recycling must not compete in waste management systems with mechanical recycling, and must recycle to materials (that is, not downcycling of plastic to energy or fuels). WWF’s proposed ten “Principles for Credible and Effective Chemical Recycling” also include safety and environmental impact, material efficiency, recyclability of the new material, transparency of claims and of material chain performance.
“WWF Releases New Position: Chemical Recycling Implementation Principles”, 26 January 2022