The problem is not plastic but its poor management. The pollution that is poisoning our skies and seas is caused, among other things, by the indiscriminate disposal of this material and by thoughtless purchasing habits (how many single-use plastic containers are in your fridge right now? And that is just one example). Recycling is no longer an option but a necessity: only by revealing the value of the resource contained in what appears to be waste is there still a real possibility of doing good for the environment.

We discuss materials innovation and sustainable economic development with Professor Enrico Marcantoni, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, at the University of Camerino. For several years, a research doctorate at the faculty, funded by Fratelli Guzzini, has been working to identify recycled materials for producing objects that have the same functional characteristics, food contact suitability and durability as virgin materials. A challenge that is very much still in play.

Prof. Marcantoni, pushing forward on innovation means adopting increasingly innovative materials, produced while minimising the environmental impact of the production cycle. What are the most innovative and sustainable techniques on which the research sector is focused?
Today, compared with the past, we are seeing major changes in the research and development of innovative polymer-matrix materials. Scientific methods make it possible to assess the potential environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of a product, and thereby identify the necessary possible improvements. A validated method for calculating environmental impact expressed in kilograms of CO2 equivalent is based on the Life cycle assessment (Lca) methodology, which uses procedures standardised by regulations. The university–business synergy is increasingly necessary in order to measure real environmental sustainability by combining data obtained through the chemical characterisation of materials (university) with the process parameters used in production activities (business). Beyond this, two new aspects are now even more important to consider: the first concerns verifying the use of hazardous substances, whether natural or not, and their traceability in the finished product. The second aspect concerns verifying whether hazardous substances might form during the production process.

With regard to the particular case of PET recycling, it is now legitimate to think that the recycled material, R-PET, can be counted among the materials useful for a sustainable future. Evidence of this is the fact that in Europe PET and HDPE together make up the families of the most recycled plastics. However, the R-PET recycling process needs to be optimised, particularly with regard to certain critical issues: first of all, even today the recycling process requires a high consumption of washing water. Secondly, there are still difficulties in using a single recycling process to obtain R-PET regardless of the starting material, whether from thermoforming or blow moulding. Finally, the price of food-grade recycled PET is higher than the price of virgin PET. This certainly weakens the drive towards greater recycling, making it difficult for companies to sustain their business economically.

Which recycled materials are most widely used and safest for products suitable for serving and consuming food?
In recent years, ecological packaging has dominated food packaging, driven above all by the strong interest of industry and consumers. Demand for biopackaging continues to rise and several new materials are aiming for the absence — or at least the substitution — of plastic in favour of biodegradable materials. To succeed, these solutions will need to guarantee at least the same technological and aesthetic performance as fossil-origin materials. The difficulties encountered relate to producing resistant materials that are capable of effectively protecting food, are easy to mould and appealing to the consumer.

It should not be forgotten that plastic is a recyclable material, just like metal, glass and paper. Studies on the environmental impacts of packaging produced by various consultancy firms highlight the false myth that glass or paper packaging is ecologically superior. It is well known, on the contrary, that glass containers are much heavier, resulting in greater CO₂ emissions during their transport. Equally, recycling glass requires a higher temperature to liquefy it than is needed for recycling plastic.

Packaging of the future will certainly be increasingly functional, economical and smart. Among these innovations, packaging with a better barrier effect — that is, a greater capacity to almost completely prevent the transfer of substances both from the environment to the food and vice versa — allows good preservation of food products, guaranteeing a lower environmental impact associated with more efficient preservation of the food's original nutritional characteristics. For this reason, the possibility of chemically modifying polymers obtained from recycled materials makes it possible to introduce specific functions that can enhance their barrier effect.

Secondary raw material sourcing and post-consumer plastic certification: how important is it to carry out an analysis of the various stages of production, including in order to provide consumers with the most transparent information possible?
An important role is played by consumers, who need to be increasingly aware — not only of the risks of plastic that, when not recycled, ends up polluting the environment, but also of the quality and potential of this material. Every time a customer makes a purchase they become part of an integrated system, and in doing so are able to understand how plastic is truly irreplaceable in some cases, and unnecessary and harmful in others. It is certainly a precious resource and, despite the worsening problem of environmental pollution, it should not be demonised.

Today the problem is not plastic itself, but plastic that is poorly managed. This is why recycling is an ever-greater necessity and, above all, it will need to be done differently from how it has been carried out until now. On 16 January 2018, the European Commission launched the first European strategy for plastics as part of the transition process towards a circular economy, and one of its objectives is precisely that all packaging should be reusable or recyclable by 2030. Plastic recycling relies almost exclusively on traditional mechanical recycling, although chemical recycling has been gaining promotion in recent times. This involves processes such as depolymerisation and pyrolysis, which break down polymers into raw materials that can be converted into new materials. Ultimately, awareness of the lower environmental impact of recycled materials represents an excellent incentive for companies to regard post-industrial and post-consumer waste as secondary raw materials rather than refuse.

Increasing product durability is one of the pillars of the circular economy. Does post-consumer plastic guarantee quality products over the long term that can also be regenerated?
The use of ecological materials is something desirable, but it must be approached with discernment. We need to be aware that simply using them will not solve the problem — in fact, it could risk amplifying it. Certainly, using materials that are no longer usable in order to produce new ones is an excellent choice. Care must be taken, however, not to give a misleading meaning to recycling: it is essential, first and foremost, to focus on extending the useful life of a product, in order to meet European targets, setting aside preconceptions and following the circular economy paradigm of "use – reuse – repair – recycle".
Particularly interesting are recent results concerning the development of new polymers that have the mechanical properties of thermosets at operating temperature and the flowability of thermoplastics under forming conditions. These materials are being studied to overcome the critical issues associated with the use of composite materials — the materials of choice for structural applications — which cannot subsequently be recycled because, even at high temperatures, they can no longer be modified but simply degrade.

Today, much attention is also being paid to the issue of microplastic release into marine and terrestrial environments, and to the impact on ecosystem health. Can using post-consumer plastics and more sustainable production cycles help tackle the problem?
In 2016, there was widespread discussion of microplastics (fragments usually smaller than 5 mm) that are generated mainly through the deterioration of larger pieces of plastic such as bags, bottles, fishing nets, synthetic garments (through washing) and tyres (abrasion during driving). The problem exists and is undeniable. The reuse of post-consumer materials can certainly help to counter the real problem of microplastics, because it would activate an economic model based on the idea of recovering ever greater quantities of waste so that it can be recycled or reused. This would avoid sending material to landfill, thereby eliminating the risk of improper disposal (dispersal into the environment), and would instead guarantee that other companies and industries in the sector can draw on this valuable end-of-life resource for use in new applications.