Designing cost-effective supply chains for plastics at the end-of-life

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Operations Research

Background:

• Global plastic production and consumption lead to significant end-of-life (EoL) plastic waste.
• Current EoL management (landfilling, incineration) is unsustainable, impacting health and wasting resources.
• Enhanced plastic circularity requires improved recycling infrastructure and cost-effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize cost-effective pathways for plastic recycling within the supply chain.
• To provide economic insights into diverse plastic recycling methods.
• To demonstrate the utility of mathematical optimization and P-graph framework for decision-makers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mathematical optimization and the P-graph theoretical framework.
• Calculated recycling costs, including capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX).
• Applied the methodology to a case study in Miskolc, Hungary.

Main Results:

• Estimated plastic recycling costs range from 54.9 to 59.28 EUR/ton in the case study.
• Identified the P-graph model's potential for enumerating recycling options.
• Demonstrated the capability to design cost-effective recycling pathways.

Conclusions:

• The study offers economic solutions for sustainable plastic management.
• The P-graph model serves as a valuable resource for optimizing plastic recycling supply chains.
• Cost-effective recycling pathways are essential for enhancing plastic circularity and reducing environmental impact.