Recycling single-use plastics has long been hampered by sorting requirements, contamination, and high costs. Now, researchers at Northwestern University have demonstrated a new catalyst that could make recycling polyolefins, the most common plastics in foodservice packaging simpler and more effective.
Instead of relying on labor-intensive separation, the catalyst works on mixed plastics, breaking them down into usable oils and waxes that can be converted into higher-value products, this source reports.
The Innovation
A new study published in Nature Chemistry introduces a nickel-based catalyst that may fundamentally change this equation.
Key breakthroughs include:
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Bypassing sorting: The catalyst works on unsorted, mixed polyolefin waste, a long-standing barrier to scaling recycling.
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Lower energy demand: Operates at 100°C lower temperatures and uses less hydrogen than traditional processes.
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High selectivity: Breaks down plastics into liquid oils and waxes that can be upcycled into lubricants, fuels, and other higher-value products.
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Handles contamination: Unlike current methods that fail when PVC is present, this catalyst not only tolerates PVC but performs better with it, making “unrecyclable” waste recyclable.
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Reusable: The catalyst can be regenerated and used multiple times, improving economic viability.
Why This Matters for Foodservice
For U.S. foodservice executives, the implications of this research extend beyond lab science:
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Packaging strategies will evolve: As new recycling technologies reach commercial scale, operators may see more viable end-of-life solutions for the single-use plastics most common in their operations.
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Regulatory alignment: State and federal packaging laws are increasingly targeting polyolefins. Breakthroughs like this could inform compliance pathways and ease future restrictions.
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Reputation and trust: Demonstrating awareness of innovations that address plastic waste positions brands as forward-looking and sustainability-focused.
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Supply chain readiness: As chemical recycling technologies advance, foodservice businesses will need to work closely with suppliers to integrate packaging that is compatible with emerging systems.
The Takeaway
Polyolefin plastics long considered some of the hardest to recycle, are at the center of packaging waste challenges in foodservice. Northwestern University’s nickel-based catalyst offers an early but promising pathway to process these plastics more efficiently, even in mixed and contaminated streams.
