Abstract:
It is generally recognized that the use of physical and digital information-based solutions for tracking plastic materials along a value chain can favour the transition to a circular economy and help to overcome obstacles. In the near future, traceability and information exchange between all actors in the value chain of the plastics industry will be crucial to establishing more effective recycling systems. Recycling plastics is a complex process that is particularly complicated in the case of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic because of its versatility and use in many applications. This literature study is part of a larger EU-funded project with the acronym ABSolEU (Paving the way for an ABS recycling revolution in the EU). One of its goals is to propose a suitable traceability system for ABS products through physical marking with a digital connection to a suitable data-management system to facilitate the circular use of ABS. The aim of this paper is therefore to review and assess the current and future techniques for traceability with a particular focus on their use for ABS plastics as a basis for this proposal. The scientific literature and initiatives are discussed within three technological areas, viz., labelling and traceability systems currently in use, digital data sharing systems and physical marking. The first section includes some examples of systems used commonly today. For data sharing, three digital technologies are discussed, viz., Digital Product Passports, blockchain solutions and certification systems, which identify a product through information that is attached to it and store, share and analyse data throughout the product\'s life cycle. Finally, several different methods for physical marking are described and evaluated, including different labels on a product\'s surface and the addition of a specific material to a polymer matrix that can be identified at any point in time with the use of a special light source or device. The conclusion from this study is that the most promising data management technology for the near future is blockchain technology, which could be shared by all ABS products. Regarding physical marking, producers must evaluate different options for individual products, using the most appropriate and economical technology for each specific product. It is also important to evaluate what information should be attached to a specific product to meet the needs of all actors in the value chain.
摘要:
人们普遍认为,使用基于物理和数字信息的解决方案来跟踪价值链上的塑料材料可以促进向循环经济的过渡,并有助于克服障碍。在不久的将来,塑料行业价值链中所有参与者之间的可追溯性和信息交流对于建立更有效的回收系统至关重要。回收塑料是一个复杂的过程,在丙烯腈丁二烯苯乙烯(ABS)塑料的情况下特别复杂,因为它的多功能性和在许多应用中的使用。该文献研究是欧盟资助的大型项目的一部分,首字母缩写为ABSolEU(为欧盟的ABS回收革命铺平道路)。其目标之一是通过物理标记为ABS产品提供合适的可追溯性系统,并与合适的数据管理系统进行数字连接,以促进ABS的循环使用。因此,本文的目的是审查和评估当前和未来的可追溯性技术,特别关注它们在ABS塑料中的应用,以此作为本提案的基础。科学文献和倡议在三个技术领域进行了讨论,viz.,目前使用的标签和可追溯性系统,数字数据共享系统和物理标记。第一部分包括当今常用的系统的一些示例。对于数据共享,讨论了三种数字技术,viz.,数字产品护照,区块链解决方案和认证系统,通过附加到产品上的信息来识别产品并存储,在整个产品生命周期中共享和分析数据。最后,描述和评估了几种不同的物理标记方法,包括产品表面上的不同标签,以及在使用特殊光源或设备的任何时间点可以识别的聚合物基质中添加特定材料。这项研究的结论是,在不久的将来,最有前途的数据管理技术是区块链技术,所有ABS产品都可以共享。关于物理标记,生产商必须评估单个产品的不同选择,为每个特定产品使用最合适和经济的技术。同样重要的是,评估应将哪些信息附加到特定产品上,以满足价值链中所有行为者的需求。