U.S. Plastics Pact Releases Position Paper on Physical and Chemical Recycling

The U.S. Plastics Pact (USPP) today released a new position paper on the role of physical and chemical recycling in a circular economy, offering science-based, consensus-driven guidance to policymakers and industry leaders. Developed with input from the full plastics value chain, the position provides clarity on how these technologies can help address hard-to-recycle plastics, while ensuring that they do not displace reduction, reuse, or mechanical recycling efforts.

“Too often, these technologies are talked about in extremes — either as a silver bullet or as something to be dismissed outright,” said Jonathan Quinn, President and CEO of the USPP. “This position paper is exactly what the USPP is designed to do — bring Activators together in a pre-competitive space to wrestle with hard problems and consider data-driven real-world solutions.”

• Physical recycling uses solvents to separate the contaminants from the plastic. The polymer structure of the plastic is not changed. This category includes purification and dissolution technologies.

• Chemical recycling uses heat and/or chemicals to break down the plastic polymers into their molecular building blocks. These processes can vary significantly by type and facility. Some chemical recycling processes produce both an oil that is used to create feedstock for new materials as well as byproducts used for fuel. This category includes depolymerization technologies (such as solvolysis) and conversion technologies (such as pyrolysis).

• Mechanical recycling is the traditional recycling process and typically involves washing, shredding, and extruding the materials. The wash process is used to remove surface contaminants, and the polymer structure of the plastic is not changed.

The USPP’s position paper affirms that physical and chemical recycling are options for materials that cannot be feasibly addressed through reduction, reuse, and mechanical recycling. The paper notes that the scale-up of these technologies should expand—not duplicate—recycling system capabilities, while enabling high-quality post-consumer recycled content (PCR) including for applications requiring stringent health and safety standards.

“Our goal is to help policymakers, companies, and communities make informed decisions grounded in science, transparency, and shared responsibility,” said Crystal Bayliss, Director of Strategy and Engagement at the USPP. “When implemented with the right standards and accountability, physical and chemical recycling can help unlock new circularity pathways for materials that today have no viable end-of-life solution. This position provides the practical guidance needed to ensure these technologies strengthen our collective progress toward a circular economy.”