Circular feedstocks

Plastics are, by nature, carbon-based materials, where various sources can provide the carbon. Historically, fossil resources (such as petrol and gas) have been the main carbon sources to make plastics. Although the use of fossil fuel resources as a feedstock for plastics only represents circa 4% of the overall demand for these resources, the willingness of the plastics industry to contribute to the shift towards a more resource-efficient and climate-neutral society makes it progressively diversify its feedstock and increase the use of alternative less finite resources.

Circular feedstocks describe feedstocks linked to system circularity, where a connection from end-of-life (e.g. waste) to start-of-life (new product) can be created. That can be achieved via a circular economy’s different loops (biological and technical). Circular feedstocks include bio-based, recycled and carbon-captured-based feedstocks.