Lahl U., Zeschmar-Lahl B. (2025): Der neue Markt an Recycling-Additiven – Handlungsbedarf für den Gesetzgeber. Müll und Abfall 7, 376-382
In recent years, a market for chemical additives to improve the quality of plastic recyclates has been established. High growth opportunities are expected for these additives. The products are very diverse and can be used, for example, for the post-stabilization of recyclates or to reduce unpleasant odors. There are also products on the market that can repair damaged polymers. And additives are available that improve the miscibility of inhomogeneous sorting fractions. On behalf of a plastics recycler, the authors have attempted to find out the chemical identity and basic formulation of these plastic additives. However, this information is mostly not disclosed. Even in the available safety data sheets, the composition of these products was regularly not included. Only in individual cases, declarable individual substances have been specified. However, it is known from discussions and the gray literature that highly reactive substances are sometimes used for these products, which are to be added directly to the hot melt in the extruder. Now that the SME recycling industry is already confronted with plastic waste containing banned additives from the past (risk cycle, legacy-chemicals), a new problem is emerging for the future: are these practices sufficiently safe? The authors advise caution here and therefore advise against the use of recycling additives whose chemical identity and basic formulation are not disclosed.