Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Pyrolysis: Recycling Germany's Sorted Mixed Plastic Waste

Pyrolysis is seen as promising to recycle sorted mixed plastic waste and reduce the global warming impact of the linear plastic economy. However, in Germany, the benefits of pyrolysis are questioned due to a lack of transparent data and regional life cycle assessments. Here, we provide a life cycle assessment of pyrolysis with caustic soda or lime compared to waste incineration with energy recovery. The life cycle assessment evaluates the treatment of 1 kg of Germany's sorted mixed plastic waste while providing full data transparency of the processes. Our results show a reduction in global warming impacts of 60 % to 94 %, considering today's and the future German energy system.