We all use plastic. And we all see the problem. But beyond the headlines and the landfill sites, something is happening: innovation. The data tells a story you might not expect.
The past decades have seen a sharp rise in innovations for recycling and recovery of plastic. It was recently found that innovations in plastic waste management outpace other technology fields. There was especially a strong growth in the number of international patent applications observed in the last 10 years.
From a global perspective, Europe has consistently led in plastic waste management innovation. Over the past three decades, it accounted for 44% of all related patent activity. Asia shows a steady growth in innovations in plastic waste management and contributes to almost 30%, which is slightly above the share of North America.
A closer look at the patent application data reveals:
- Most applicants in the field of plastic waste recycling are European (8 of the top 20)
- Most applicants in the field of plastic waste recovery are European (10 of the top 20)
- About half of the world’s top applicants in these technology fields are active in the chemical or tyre industries
- A significant part of the world’s top applicants in these technology fields operates in industries like packaging, automotive, electronics, printing and consumer goods
- Since 2015, startups and universities across Europe have rapidly increased patent filings in advanced recycling methods
The data points to a clear shift. Plastic waste is now seen as both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation.
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