New analysis by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre warns that chemical recycling is still too costly for textiles
BRUSSELS — Chemical recycling of plastics remains significantly more expensive than virgin polymer in the European Union, raising fresh questions over its role in closing the loop on polyester textiles.
A new Joint Research Centre (JRC) review of solvolysis and pyrolysis finds no pathway to cost parity under current market conditions, despite growing regulatory pressure for recycled content in packaging and, increasingly, in textiles.
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