Page 77

The next step is to ensure the uptake of secondary materials on an industrial scale. To get there, financial incentives such as tax breaks or subsides for recyclate materials can play an important role in the short term. But ultimately this needs to be driven by increased consumer demand for products made in accordance with a circular economy approach.In this respect, perhaps the most critical success factor is ensuring the awareness, acceptance and support of citizens for recycling initiatives. The more people can clearly see the benefits that sustainable actions can bring to their lives, the more likely they are to change their own habits and encourage those around them to do the same.Innovations in recycling give cause for great optimism for the future, but the journey is only beginning and we all have a role to play. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORSLucie Charbonnel is EMEA Marketing Leader for Industrials and Recycling at DuPont and has been working with DuPont for the last 12 years. She has worked on plastic packaging over many years across various companies, both in technical and development positions, and in marketing and strategy roles. She is now marketing lead for the Industrial segment, including Construction, Infrastructure and Polymer modification. Thanks to her diverse experience she has identified and developed high value end-applications in the industrial arena for various plastic waste streams. Mrs Charbonnel is actively involved in major industry associations aiming at advancing the plastics recycling agenda in Europe.Sarah Perreard is Global Packaging Sustainability Value Chain Leader at DuPont. She has overseen the development and implementation of DuPont’s new sustainability strategy for packaging and represents the company in various circular economy initiatives. She was responsible for the conception and coordination the Virtuous Circle, a unique circular economy project which took place in South Africa in 2016-2017 involving multiple partners from industry and civil society and focusing on the recycling of food packaging into products of value to society. Dr Karlheinz Hausmann is R&D Fellow at DuPont.He has PhD in Materials Science and is an internationally recognized technical leader with a broad knowledge of polymers and polymer processing technologies. He has worked with DuPont for almost 30 years and is currently responsible for the development of new polymer solutions in packaging and compounding applications. Pictured: Compatibilisers and couple agents make it possible to create quality recyclate materials for building planksRESOURCE EFFICIENCY 077