Recycled plastics go to Paris Olympics

        The 2024 Paris Olympics in France will be held in July. In addition to the exciting events that are about to be staged, recycled plastics have become a highlight of this event.

        Using recycled plastic to create stadium seats

        It is reported that in order to reduce the carbon footprint of this event, the Adidas Arena and the newly built Paris Olympic Aquatics Center, a total of nearly 11,000 seats, are all made of recycled plastic. They were provided by a French ecological construction company. Through technologies such as heat compression, hundreds of tons of renewable plastics were converted into boards and eventually made into seats.

        Benjamin, head of a French ecological construction company: We obtain (recyclable plastics) from different recyclers and cooperate with more than 50 recyclers, who are responsible for collecting garbage and sorting (recyclables). Benjamin further explained that the garbage recyclers will clean and crush the plastic garbage, and then the plastic garbage will be transported to the factory in the form of particles or fragments to make environmentally friendly seats.

        In fact, it is not the first time that "recycled plastics" have participated in the Olympics. All the podiums at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are made from recycled household plastic products, and the clothing fabrics are also made from recycled fibers. The era of plastic recycling has arrived. "Recycled plastics" will participate in the Olympics and will appear in more and more fields.

        Demand for recycled plastics surges

        According to a new report by Polaris Market Research, the global post-consumer recycled plastics market will be worth $11.09 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.60% from 2024 to 2032. The global post-consumer recycled plastics market is expected to reach $27.34 billion by 2032. The expansion of the construction industry in emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India, and Mexico is expected to lead to a surge in demand for post-consumer recycled plastics. During the forecast period, these recycled plastics will be used to produce various components, including insulation materials, fixtures, and safety products such as vests, belts, and gloves.

        According to a report by the World Economic Forum, only 14% of plastic packaging is currently recycled, and only 2% of plastic packaging is recycled at the original level, which also shows that there is huge room for growth in the recycled plastics industry.