In recent SAP Inside Track Bengaluru, I got opportunity to showcase SAP's Sustainability Portfolio along with my talented Co-speaker Supreet.
SAP Responsible Design and Production is one of the products under the umbrella.
I would like to explain how SAP Responsible Design and Production solution serves as a framework that underscores the integration of social and environmental considerations within product and process design and production.
Leveraging SAP principles for PET Producers would substantially amplify the sustainability and influence of their endeavors:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
The SAP methodology involves conducting a thorough life cycle assessment of products or processes. LCA can be applied to evaluate the environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of the enzymatic plastic recycling process. This assessment would encompass aspects such as sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, and scenarios at the end of product life.
Circular Design
At the core of the SAP philosophy is the principle of designing products and processes with circularity as a central theme. This aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the partnership, wherein PET Producer’s enzymatic recycling technology is aimed at creating a closed loop for plastics. The creation of plastics that can be effortlessly disassembled, repolymerized, and reused resonates with circular design principles, effectively minimizing waste and resource consumption.
Enzymatic Plastic Recycling
PET Producers have founded on its enzymatic approach to plastic recycling. Conventional plastic recycling methods often encounter limitations in generating high-quality recycled plastics due to challenges such as contamination and degradation during processing. Its enzymatic process offers a more efficient and ecologically sound solution. Enzymes are employed to disintegrate plastic materials into their fundamental building blocks, which are then repurposed to fabricate new plastics boasting characteristics akin to virgin materials.
Social Equity
The SAP ethos accentuates social equity and encompasses the well-being of laborers, communities, and marginalized groups. Within the partnership's context, ensuring that the implementation of the enzymatic recycling process yields benefits for local communities, creates employment opportunities, and upholds workers' rights stands as a vital imperative. This could entail initiatives like training programs, equitable labor practices, and meaningful engagement with local stakeholders.
100% Output Repolymerization
PET producer's commitment to guaranteeing that the entirety of the output from the enzymatic process undergoes repolymerization. Repolymerization involves utilizing the enzymatically disassembled plastic building blocks to synthesize novel, high-quality plastic materials. This commitment underscores their determination to close the loop in plastic recycling and diminish the necessity for new plastic production sourced from fossil resources.
Feedstock Supply Collaboration
PET Producers engaged in securing a dependable and consistent supply of feedstock for their enzymatic recycling process. This likely involves sourcing plastic waste materials amenable to efficient processing. An unwavering feedstock supply stands as a pivotal factor in the success and scalability of technology.
Innovation and Research
All PET producers can channel investments into research aimed at further elevating the enzymatic recycling technology, investigating novel feedstock sources, and devising strategies to optimize the overarching process for even more favorable environmental and societal outcomes.
