Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap Now Open for Comments

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the window for stakeholder’s input on its Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap will be open until March 1, 2021. The draft was published in late-January this year. The associated request for information (RFI) solicits feedback from all stakeholders.

The Plastics Innovation Challenge aims to accelerate innovations in energy-efficient plastics recycling technologies. It also seeks to make domestic processing of plastic materials economically viable and energy efficient.

The program is characterized by four important goals- deconstruction, upcycling, recycle by design, scale and deploy. It identifies challenges and opportunities across various recycling and upcycling methods as well as design strategies to promote recyclability. Apart from providing an overview about the limitations of current plastic recycling technologies, it also suggests new visions and objectives for the next decade.

Mark W. Menezes, Deputy Secretary of Energy noted that the Plastics Innovation Challenge thinks beyond the status quo to make real impact in addressing plastic waste issues. Being an essential source of valuable direction, the Department seeks feedbacks to pursue solutions for the issue that affect many, he said.

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