PolyREC introduces multipolymer data collection system for plastics circular economy

01 Mar 2022 --- PolyREC is launching a multipolymer data collection system for recording European recycled plastic data called RecoTrace. The Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) now recognizes PolyREC – an association that monitors, verifies and reports on European recycled plastics – as an official data collector.

RecoTrace is reportedly the first comprehensive data system for monitoring plastic recycling and recycled plastics use. PolyREC has called on plastics recyclers and converters to register recycled plastics data with the system. Meanwhile, Plastics Europe has encouraged its members to promote RecoTrace to their value chain partners.

PolyREC will report on the European plastics value chain’s progress toward the CPA target of 10 Mt recycled plastics use by 2025 using RecoTrace data.

“PolyREC is calling on all plastic recyclers and converters to register their recycled plastic data into RecoTrace and, in doing so, ensure transparency of the circular movement of European polymers,” comments Ton Emans, president at Plastics Recyclers Europe, on behalf of PolyREC.

“Understanding the size and dynamics of the European recycled plastics market will help inform future legislation and investment decisions that accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”

Comprehensive transparency tool
RecoTrace is described as the first comprehensive data system to monitor both plastic recycling volumes and recycled plastic use for all main polymers. The system is CPA-compliant.

The RecoTrace system has been expanded to include all main polymers.The tool provides recyclers and converters with a free online platform for tracking progress against individual pledges to produce or use recycled content and help to demonstrate commitment toward circularity.

Building on Recovinyl’s 20+ years of data collection experience and expertise, RecoTrace inherits “a proven track record and credibility in data monitoring.”

The system has been expanded to include all main polymers: polyolefin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate.

PolyREC members have worked collaboratively to align all definitions and methodology used within RecoTrace to ensure comparability of data.

The EU Plastics Strategy requires all packaging to be recyclable or reusable in an economically viable way by 2030. World leaders are discussing the terms of a potential global treaty on plastic pollution at UNEA 5.2 this week.

Edited by Joshua Poole