We are obsessed with recycling plastic. In 2022, a record number of 2,149 patents for plastic recycling were filed, with 1,970 of those in China. 80 CPG, packaging, and retailer brands have committed to reaching up to 50% recycled plastic content in their packaging by 2025, while companies are exempt from the UK Plastic Packaging Tax if the packaging in question contains more than 30% recycled content.
Recycling has been touted as the solution to the plastic waste problem for so long, we’ve forgotten to ask if it actually works.