The chemical waste dilemma
Ilaria Garoffolo of ChemChimp looks at ways of addressing supply chain inefficiencies to reduce environmental impact
The EU has long been at the forefront of waste management, establishing clear, structured guidelines to address the growing environmental concerns posed by waste generation. One of the most important tools in this effort is the Waste Framework Directive( WFD), which serves as the foundational document guiding waste management practices within the Union.
At the core of this directive lies the waste hierarchy, a structured approach to waste management that prioritises waste prevention and resource efficiency( Figure 1). This is often depicted as an inverted pyramid, with the most desirable waste management actions placed at the top and the least desirable at the bottom. This hierarchy consists of five distinct levels: 1. Prevention: The most preferable action, focuses on reducing the amount of waste generated at its source 2. Preparing for reuse: This involves activities such as cleaning, repairing or refurbishing products to extend their lifecycle and reduce waste 3. Recycling: The process of transforming waste materials into new products, thereby reducing the reliance on virgin resources and conserving natural resources 4. Recovery: This includes the extraction of value through energy recovery or other processes that generate energy from waste. 5. Disposal: The least favoured option, involving landfill or
Circular management
THE WASTE HIERARCHY
Waste management
Figure 1- The waste hierarchy
incineration of waste without any recovery of energy or resources
The goal of this hierarchy is to minimise the environmental impact of waste and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills or incinerators. By adhering to this system, the EU hopes to transition toward a more sustainable, circular economy where resources are used more efficiently, and waste is minimised.
A hidden problem
Despite the clear guidelines provided by the WFD, significant inefficiencies in the chemical supply chain still lead to unnecessary waste generation. Each year, it is estimated that 4-6 %
Most preferred option
Reduce, rethink, redesign
Reuse, repair, repurpose
• • • • • • • • • Decision to dispose • • • • • • • • •
Recover value
Least preferred option
of perfectly usable chemicals are disposed of, not because they are degraded, obsolete or dangerous, but due to mismatched supply and demand, poor inventory management and the absence of efficient redistribution systems. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in the chemical industry itself, where chemicals are often overproduced and surplus materials are disposed of prematurely.
The consequences of this inefficiency are twofold: economic losses and environmental harm. The chemicals that are discarded could otherwise be repurposed or reused, either within the same industry or through the emergence
46 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981