Advantages & Impacts

The effects of plastic pollution are global; from microplastics in the food chain to landfill leakage, the lack of effective recycling solutions creates a circular pollution problem.

We strive for a plasticneutral approach, which comes from developing a circular plastics economy. By moving away from the traditional linear model of create-consume-dispose to one of create-consume-recycle, we:

• Convert plastics destined for incineration, landfill or the environment into valuable products
• Extract value from waste plastic, that would have otherwise been lost
• Reduce the requirement for fossil resource in the production of plastic, as part of the decarbonisation agenda
• Allow plastic to remain a part of our everyday lives, with a strong recycling model to ensure its after-use

By achieving the above, we become plasticneutral – continuing to use a product that has so many benefits, whilst ensuring it is responsibly managed.

Alongside diverting plastic away from polluting the environment, our technology represents significant overall environmental benefit.

Initial independent studies have already shown that advanced recycling could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1.5 tonnes for every tonne of plastic waste processed when compared to incineration. This means that a 100,000tpa site would save approximately 150,000 tonnes of CO2  annually, when compared to incineration.

Environmental benefits include:

• Reducing plastic pollution of the natural environment
• An estimated 1.5 tonnes CO2 emissions saving per tonne of plastic processed via advanced recycling when compared to incineration
• An increased scope of recyclable plastics, including those classed as ‘unrecyclable’
• A reduction on fossil sourced feedstock for the manufacture of new plastics
• High yields
• Minimal waste is produced- impurities (colourants, additives, fillers etc.) in the plastic feedstock fall out into the heavier hydrocarbon feedstocks, which can be used in construction

To understand both the environmental impacts and Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the HydroPRS™ process, alongside the CO2 savings from diverting plastic waste away from incineration and into advanced recycling, Mura is working with partners on and contributing to several specific LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments), one of which is an in-depth LCA with Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG – part of the University of Warwick). The full report is expected to be available Autumn 2022, with initial data indicating:

• Significantly reduced Global Warming Potential of the HydroPRS™ process compared to Energy from Waste
• HydroPRS™ compares favourably to fossil naphtha, supporting the ambition of a viable pathway to Net Zero for the petrochemical and plastics industries