Egor Dementev, Head of ICIS EMEA Recycling Analysis, engaged in a dialogue with Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and President of Chemical Recycling Europe, and Mark Victory, Senior Recycling Editor at ICIS, discussing chemical recycling regulations and industry prospects following the adoption of the implementing act for mass balance accounting under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

The dialogue focused on several key issues, including the regulation of mass balance methods for chemically recycled PET under the SUPD implementing act, the end-of-waste status and winter solutions for pyrolysis oil, and the importance of investment in chemical recycling regardless of regulatory clarity. It also explored the volume of recycled material required for food contact applications by 2030 and 2040, as well as the demand for chemical recycling up to 2030.

Valentijn De Neve stated: "Investment in chemical recycling is crucial for driving a sustainable circular economy, and the mass balance method provides a clear accounting framework for the industry." Mark Victory added: "Solutions for pyrolysis oil must be integrated with end-of-waste status assessments to ensure environmental benefits are maximized."

Analysis indicates that demand for chemical recycling is expected to grow significantly by 2030 to meet the need for recycled materials in areas such as food contact applications. This underscores the necessity for continuous investment and technological innovation.