The Shareholders’ Newsletter #62 - Spring 2020

Innovation : For a better life cycle of plastics

INNOVATION

©️ Allard Denis - Total
Quality assurance and control at the Total Corbion PLA plant in Rayong, Thailand.

For a better life cycle of plastics

Total is incorporating the development of its polymer activity in the circular economy and has set itself the target of producing 30% of its polymers from recycled materials by 2030, based on four main actions.

Action one: eliminate plastics from the environment 

Total is a founding member of The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an organization that brings together around 40 member companies from across the plastics and consumer goods value chain. They have committed over $1 billion, with the ultimate goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to provide solutions to eliminate plastic pollution in the environment, particularly in oceans.

Action two: eco-design to reduce the environmental footprint of polymers

The improvement plans implemented by Total contribute to reducing the impact of plastics on the environment through the eco-design of products. The properties of the new polymers reduces the quantity of raw materials and additives consumed in their manufacturing, and increased energy efficiency when used by our clients, compared with other materials. The eco-design challenge also involves integrating the end of the product lifecycle right from the R&D phase, thereby encouraging the recyclability of plastics, for example by simplifying the structure of packaging to do away with several layers, while maintaining the same mechanical, visual or transformation properties.

Action three: plastics recycling

Total is working on two types of recycling to develop a range of high-performance recycled polymers.

  • Mechanical recycling. Total acquired Synova in 2019, a French leader in recycled polypropylene destined for the automobile sector, and will double the production capacity as from early 2021.
  • Chemical recycling, through two projects in France, one in the recycling of polystyrene in partnership with Citeo, Saint-Gobain and Syndifrais, and the other in the recycling of polystyrene food packaging waste with Citeo, Recycling Technologies, Mars and Nestlé.

Action four: bioplastics

Total is a global leader in bioplastics through its joint-venture Total Corbion PLA, in which Total and Corbion have equal shares. Total Corbion PLA owns in Thailand, the second largest PLA (polylactic acid) plant in the world, with a capacity to produce 75,000 tons of PLA per year from sugar. PLA is a 100% renewable-based bioplastic that is recyclable, biodegradable and can be used in different markets, in particular packaging, consumer goods, 3D printing, fibers and the automobile sector.

Plastics have become a crucial part of our modern economy by virtue of their properties (lightness, robustness, versatility), which mean they can be used for a whole spectrum of applications in our daily lives. 

By contributing to producing lighter vehicles, providing insulation in the construction industry and preserving foodstuffs by packaging, plastics improve energy efficiency and help shrink CO2 emissions. Producing them from recycled materials is a proactive response to the challenge of managing the end of their useful life.