CPRJ Survey: The Chinese plastics industry on track to low-carbon economy

Under the goals of “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality”, the development of a low-carbon economy is on track and becomes the main trend of the plastics industry.

It has been two years since the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Circular Economy Development in China. How is the progress of the Chinese plastics industry in pursuing a low-carbon economy along the whole industry chain from raw materials, production to application?

In order to find out the current status and challenges of low-carbon technology for plastics in China, China Plastic and Rubber Journal (CPRJ) and Adsale Plastics Network (AdsaleCPRJ.com) recently conducted an industry survey and received a total of 1646 valid responses from respondents in the sectors of chemical and raw materials, plastic processing machinery, plastic packaging, automotive, medical equipment and packaging, and consumer electronics & home appliances.

Low-carbon the buzzword in the Chinese plastics industry

One of the key findings of the survey is that low carbon has become a considering factor for Chinese chemical enterprises to create new products.

When it comes to new projects, most respondents in the chemical and raw materials sector said bio-based plastics (49.37%) and recycled plastics (47.47%) are their top priorities in developing projects in 2022.

According to the survey result, more than half of respondents (53.08%) in the machine manufacturing sector said developing low-energy equipment is one of their main focuses in 2022. 

Meanwhile, thanks to the advantage of low energy consumption, all-electric plastics processing machines are gaining more applications in automotive and packaging sectors. About a third of the respondents said they plan to develop all-electric equipment.

Nonetheless, there is still limitation in adopting bio-based and recycled plastics due to unstable supply, relatively high price and technological constraints.

A respondent from a Chinese manufacturer stated that the processing of recycled plastics causes abrasion to the injection molding machines and molds. Meanwhile, another respondent commented that certifications of low-carbon materials and equipment are yet to be established.

Automotive: Lightweighting remains crucial

The CPRJ survey result confirms that lightweighting is still the most important trend in the Chinese automotive sector, especially for the new energy vehicle development. Half of the respondents named lightweighting as one their interested technologies.

As the battery contributes most of the weight of new energy vehicle, therefore, it is crucial to realize weight reduction in the rest of the body structure for a longer driving range.

Besides, weight reduction is also conducive to shorter braking distance, less kinetic energy and noise, among others.

It is worth noting that the use of recycled plastics is the second key focus of the Chinese automotive sector. Decorative materials and processes, as well as bio-based plastics, are also gaining more attention.

In 2021, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford started increasing the adoption of recycled plastics in a range of automotive parts, from carpets, interior door trim, headliner substrates to wire harness clips.

However, the higher price of recycled materials and limitations of current processing technologies are still restricting the large-scale application of those materials.

Packaging: Green design and chemical recycling gain momentum

Green design has become vital when it comes to the effectuation of circular plastic packaging, which involves standardized specification, extended producer responsibility system and full life-cycle management.

The establishment of a quantified and traceable evaluation system for sustainable plastic products allows both upstream and downstream of the plastics industry value chain to collaborate better on circular packaging advancement.

As most of circular plastic packaging uses recyclable or recycled plastics, the insufficient supply of those plastics has ruined the adoption of green design.

Chemical recycling is another hot topic in the Chinese plastic packaging sector. It enables the conversion of mixed waste plastics, which cannot be mechanically recycled, into intermediate chemicals such as oil, gas, carbon and monomers.

Medical: Energy efficient manufacturing high on agenda

Although medical equipment manufacturing does not require very high energy consumption, more Chinese manufacturers are taking electrification and energy efficiency into consideration.

Some respondents believe that the medical packaging sector can achieve energy efficiency by smart manufacturing. It is because central production systems can save energy on connected machines and equipment, especially when producing different kinds of product with low output.

The survey result also shows that centralized procurement is highly important for enterprises in the medical sector. A respondent said that centralized procurement can facilitate better product quality control, capacity allocation and cost management for medical manufacturers.

As a result, the upgrade and transformation of the medical sector can be accelerated by improving the scale, intensification and modernization.

E&E: More adoption of recycled plastics

Thinning and miniaturization, which lead to more portable products and sustainable manufacture, have become the buzzwords in the Chinese consumer electronics and home appliances industries.

Industry giants like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are making their efforts in promoting the application of recycled plastics in E&E products.

For example, Samsung Electronics and DSM have partnered to use recycled plastics made from abandoned nylon fishing nets for creating various crucial mobile phone components, such as button holders and internal holders.

Conclusion

Carbon emission reduction and energy saving have become the key considerations in the procurement of materials and equipment, as well as the design and production of end products, for Chinese enterprises in different sectors.

Looking ahead, low-carbon production without compromising product quality is anticipated to be the X-factor for the success of enterprises in the new era. Chinese enterprises are no exception.

Source : https://www.adsalecprj.com/en/news_show-76750.html

Edit : HANDLER