Biorecycling – Many EU Member States not on track to meet recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste 08-08-2024
Biorecycling
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Axial Flux Electric Motors: Pioneering the Future of Electric Mobility
Axial flux electric motors are revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry with their superior efficiency, power, and compact design. These motors offer benefits like faster acceleration and enhanced energy efficiency, though their complex construction currently leads to higher production costs. As the technology evolves, it promises greener and more efficient mobility solutions. Biorecycling
A New Frontier for Electric Vehicles
Axial flux motors are gaining traction among engineers and EV enthusiasts due to their distinctive features. Unlike conventional motors where the magnetic flux traverses the rotor perpendicularly, axial flux motors have the flux aligned parallel to the axis. This configuration boosts energy efficiency and provides higher torque at lower speeds, making them ideal for electric vehicles that require quick acceleration and optimal performance.
Advantages and Challenges
The innovative design of axial flux motors reduces resistive and eddy current losses, enhancing overall efficiency. They also produce greater torque at low speeds, essential for rapid acceleration in EVs. Biorecycling
Their compactness allows for reduced size and weight, perfect for applications with limited space. However, their intricate construction leads to higher manufacturing costs and potential noise issues, with reduced torque at high speeds.
Applications and Future Prospects
Beyond automotive use, axial flux motors are well-suited for drones and robots, where space and weight are critical. Biorecycling
In industrial applications, their high torque and precision make them ideal for driving pumps, compressors, and machine tools. As technology advances and production costs decline, axial flux motors are poised for widespread adoption, enhancing the efficiency and performance of various electric systems.
Many EU Member States not on track to meet recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste
Europe aims to become a circular economy. To encourage this, the EU has set targets for the 27 Member States (EU-27) to increase recycling and reduce landfilling. Specifically, by 2025, 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste must be prepared for re-use or recycled. This briefing assesses Member States’ prospects of meeting these targets and its findings constitute the basis of the European Commission’s 2023 early warning report.
Key messages
- 10 Member States are at risk of missing both the municipal waste (55%) and the total packaging waste (65%) recycling targets in 2025. Biorecycling
- Eight Member States are at risk of missing the municipal waste (55%) recycling target but on track to meet the total packaging waste target in 2025.
- Nine Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia) are likely to meet the recycling targets for both municipal waste and total packaging waste, but only four of them are likely to also meet all material-specific packaging targets in 2025.
- 12 Member States are at risk of missing at least two material-specific packaging recycling targets in 2025. Biorecycling
- Plastic packaging is the most demanding packaging waste stream to recycle. 19 Member States will struggle to meet the 50% recycling target in 2025.
- Many Member States need to significantly step up their efforts and better monitor the effectiveness of policy measures to address the risk areas identified in this assessment.
CARBIOS and FCC Environment collaborate on UK-based PET biorecycling facility
CARBIOS says recycling has plateaued in the UK in recent years, but UK government policy supports a continual move to a more circular economy, which FCC Environment supports. Biorecycling
Achieving a circular economy requires innovation and investment to deliver real environmental change, CARBIOS says, and exploring biorecycling is one way of doing this.
FCC states it is keen to understand this technology better by seeking an evidence-based view on the advantages of using enzymes for the treatment of PET, such as lower energy consumption and better circularity of the polymers back into the PET production lines. The depolymerization process developed by CARBIOS also facilitates the recycling of all kinds of PET waste, including problematic fractions such as polyester textiles, into high-quality recycled PET. Biorecycling
In order to tackle the plastic waste crisis, CARBIOS says it has developed a revolutionary enzymatic depolymerization technology that enables efficient and solvent-free recycling of PET plastic and textile waste into virgin-like products. As well as the ‘world’s first’ industrial-scale enzymatic PET recycling plant currently under construction in Longlaville, France, the UK-based plant would process PET waste that is currently not recyclable using conventional recycling technologies, such as coloured, multilayered or textile waste. Biorecycling
Brindisi Under Review by LyondellBasell
The Brindisi petrochemical plant is under review by LyondellBasell for potential investments, rationalizations, or divestments, among six European assets being evaluated. These sites include Berre in France, Muenchmuenster in Germany, Tarragona in Spain, Carrington in the UK, and Maasvlakte in the Netherlands (in partnership with Covestro). Notably, the Brindisi site experienced the closure of a polypropylene plant at the end of last year. Biorecycling
Ferrara in Italy remains a strategic asset, with planned investments in catalysis systems. This review program, part of LyondellBasell’s European activities assessment announced last May, was highlighted during the presentation of the financial results for Q2 2024.
From April to June, LyondellBasell reported a net profit of $924 million and an EBITDA of $1.4 billion, attributed to increased production and improved demand. In North America, sales volumes of olefins and polyolefins rose, supported by favorable costs of ethane and natural gas. European polyethylene margins improved due to increased LPG usage at favorable conditions. Biorecycling
To enhance profitability, LyondellBasell sold its Ethylene Oxide & Derivatives (EO&D) business to Ineos for $700 million and invested approximately $500 million to acquire a 35% stake in the Natpet joint venture in Saudi Arabia. The company also plans to exit refining by Q1 2025, converting its Houston refinery, a strategy reiterated last year.
Emirates Biotech: Revolutionizing the PLA Bioplastics Sector
SS Royal Kit Emirates Investment and Global Biopolymers Industries have launched Emirates Biotech, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the PLA bioplastics sector across the Middle East, Africa, and India. Biorecycling
This venture focuses on producing and promoting PLA biopolymers as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based plastics.
Emirates Biotech is dedicated to offering high-quality, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable PLA biopolymers, aligning with circular economy principles. Strategically positioned to cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly products, the company not only supplies PLA biopolymers but also provides expertise in application development, recycling, and sustainable end-of-life solutions. Biorecycling
Shaikh Suhail Ali Saeed Rashed Al-Maktoum emphasized that this collaboration reflects a strong commitment to advancing sustainability both regionally and globally. By investing in PLA bioplastics, Emirates Biotech aims to foster a more environmentally conscious society, aligning with the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030 vision.
Emirates Biotech plans to commence commercial operations in early 2025 and aims to begin constructing its first PLA production facility in the UAE by 2026. Biorecycling
This initiative underscores a significant step towards sustainable development, offering a viable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics and contributing to a greener future.
Innovia launches new in-mold film
Semi-cavitated labeling film is designed for large format containers typically used in the paint, food and industrial markets.
Innovia Films, a major producer of BOPP films, has launched RayoForm ELR70, a new film for large-format in-mold labeling containers.
This five-layer semi-cavitated film, with one side matt and one side gloss, offers a reduction in density versus standard white films. Biorecycling
The two-side treatment allows for the control of anti-static levels for the high-speed sheet feeding and molding process, giving optimal print and molding performance.
‘The high stiffness of the film allows for bigger labels and larger sheet conversion. This product performs excellently on both PP and PE containers,’ said Paul Watters, product manager for labels at Innovia Films. Biorecycling
Bioplastic – Can private value chains boost polyolefin recycling? 07-08-2024
Biorecycling