molecules are the key to the circular economy the …...22/06/2018 confidential - lyle clarke &...

CONFIDENTIAL - Lyle Clarke & Associates22/06/2018 188

The Future is ChemistryMolecules are the Key to the Circular Economy

Lyle Clarke & AssociatesEnriching our planet and your wallet

CONFIDENTIAL - Lyle Clarke & Associates

How did we get here & where do we go?

• 1980s: The Beginning• 1990s: Entering the Mainstream• 2000s: Pursuit of “High Value” Use• 2010s: Shift to EPR • 2020s: Recovering Resources

22/06/2018 189


Evolution of Resource Recovery – 1980s

• Beginning of universal recycling• Focused on fibre & containers• Response to consumer shift to

convenience • Leveraged “me too” momentum• Driven by scarcity of landfill and “trucks

to Michigan”

22/06/2018 190



• Mainstreaming of recycling with focus on access

• More places, more plastics• Mechanical sorting• Volatile markets, financial pressure

22/06/2018 191



• Waste Diversion Act & ”Stewardship”• Electronics, tires, etc. + GreenBins• Accelerated packaging innovation• Engineering-based recycling innovation

aimed at material separation• “Highest value use”

22/06/2018 192



• Extended Producer Responsibility & Resource Recovery

• Maturing of mechanical separation• Emergence of innovations based on

chemistry• National Sword, the plastic ocean &

potential disaffection with recycling

22/06/2018 193


The Crossroads• We have reached the peak potential of

material separation – and it fell short• We can step back –

• Capture and recycle fewer materials• Push more effort onto consumers • Reduce consumer choice

• Or we can look forward to new ways of extracting value from waste

22/06/2018 194


Chemistry in Ascendance• You can’t mine PTE, drill for HDPE or

harvest PPE• Advanced materials made for specific uses

= fewer markets = lower price• Most advanced = fewest markets = lowest

post-use price• However, most elemental = widest

markets = best price

22/06/2018 195


• Cost effective, zero-waste gas cleaning solution• Removes toxic/corrosive hydrogen sulfide from renewable natural gas• Converts H2S to beneficial sulfur-rich biochar fertilizer• Potential to open massive volumes of sour gas to beneficial use


• Carbon-neutral sustainable solid biofuel that meets strict requirements of the steelmaking industry

• Potential to reduce Canada’s GHG emissions by 1%


Let’s give Chemistry a Chance

molecules are the key to the circular economy the …...22/06/2018 confidential - lyle clarke &...

Documents