April 14, 2026 12:20

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has recently published a study, Chemical content validation of recycled plastics, examining the chemical content of mechanically recycled plastics, which may have negative impacts on human health and the environment if not properly managed.

Virgin plastics may contain more than 13,000 chemicals, including intentionally added additives such as plasticisers and flame retardants, as well as non-intentionally added substances.

According to the researchers, identifying these substances becomes even more complex when materials are recycled, as chemical information may be incomplete or lost along the value chain, while new contaminants, degradation products or reaction products may emerge during use and recycling. The heterogeneity of plastic waste, combined with limited source separation in closed-loop systems, further increases this complexity.

Unlike other studies that tend to blame plastics, whether virgin or recycled, the OECD report focuses on the tools that can be used to ensure the safety of recycled materials, including standards, certifications and analytical techniques used to characterise the chemical content of secondary raw materials.

The issue is all the more timely given that obligations to use recycled plastic in packaging, including food packaging, introduced at EU level through the SUP Directive and the PPWR, are expected to increase extra-EU imports, which will need to undergo checks to ensure their safety.

The report starts from the premise that no single analytical technique can detect all contaminants, making a combination of targeted and non-targeted screening necessary to ensure material safety. Although a number of international standards and certifications exist, many focus more on process traceability than on strict chemical limits, creating regulatory gaps.

Among the main obstacles identified are the high cost of laboratory analyses, the technical complexity linked to sample heterogeneity and the lack of harmonised standards.

To promote a safe circular economy, the report proposes strategies such as sustainable design, greater transparency along the value chain and the development of globally recognised testing protocols.

To ensure the chemical safety of recycled plastics, the researchers conclude, an integrated approach is needed, supported by economic incentives and closer research collaboration.

See also: Chemical content validation of recycled plastics - OECD Publishing

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