In order to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of single-use plastics, the US Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will provide $13.4 million in funding for next-generation plastics technology. Seven R&D projects led by industry and universities received the funding. The seven projects will work to develop affordable "upcycled" solutions to convert waste plastic film into more valuable materials and to design new plastics that are easily recyclable and biodegradable.
The plastic production process is very energy-intensive. According to statistics, plastic production accounts for more than 3% of the total energy consumption in the United States. Still, many of these materials end up in landfills or the environment, especially single-use plastics such as plastic bags, wraps, and films. Currently, less than 10% of plastic is recycled, and most is "down-cycled" for lower-value products. This investment benefits the Department of Energy in addressing the plastic waste recycling challenge and supports a Biden administration to build a clean energy economy to ensure the United States achieves net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
