Sometimes more is more: Improving the quality of recycled plastics using additives

To ensure plastics can be re-used at the end-of-their life, they need to maintain at least the same quality after they’ve gone through the recycling process. Not an easy mission, given the thermal and mechanical stress they undergo during the process.

Recycled plastics often contain impurities that accelerate their degradation and change their material properties. Consequently, recyclers and plastic converters are facing quality and performance issues while processing recycled polymeric material.

BASF has a new range of additive solutions to improve the properties of these recycled plastics. These solutions address specific quality issues associated with recycled resins, such as limited processability, poor long-term thermal stability, and insufficient protection from outdoor weathering. The additive solutions can help increase the percentage of recycled content in several end-use applications such as packaging, automotive & mobility, and building and construction.

Associated SDG targets