Deception by the Numbers

The document titled "Deception by the Numbers", published by Greenpeace, examines claims by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) regarding the efficacy and viability of chemical recycling technologies. The report scrutinizes the ACC’s assertions about substantial investments and their potential to address the plastic waste crisis, finding significant discrepancies and limitations in these claims.

Key findings highlight that:

• Less than half of the projects classified as advanced recycling met basic criteria for credible plastic recycling. Many are waste-to-fuel initiatives, which do not constitute recycling but rather material destruction.
• The projects collectively represent only 0.2% of the annual plastic waste generated in 2017, signaling a negligible impact on reducing plastic waste.
• A third of the projects were deemed unviable, with none of the plastic-to-plastic initiatives showing promise for scalability or meaningful contribution to reducing plastic pollution.
• Public funding, amounting to $506 million, was allocated predominantly to waste-to-fuel projects, benefiting the petrochemical sector rather than advancing sustainable recycling solutions.

The report underscores systemic issues, noting that while chemical recycling is marketed as part of a circular economy, many of these technologies fail to demonstrate feasibility outside laboratory conditions. Furthermore, taxpayer funding often supports projects that prioritize fuel production over reducing virgin plastic production, thus perpetuating fossil-fuel dependence.

The findings suggest that chemical recycling is largely a diversionary tactic to maintain the status quo in plastic production and consumption. Greenpeace advocates for redirecting investments towards genuinely sustainable waste management solutions and transitioning away from fossil-based business models.