Nova-Institute CEO Advocates for Sustainable Plastics Amid Industry Challenges

A fresh perspective on the future of plastics emerged from a recent interview with Michael Carus, CEO of the German research institute nova‑Institute, and Svenja Geerken, editor of the institute’s monthly newsletter, Bio‑based News.

Carus, a physicist with more than two decades of experience in the bio‑ and CO₂-based economy, leads the nova‑Institute in market analysis, techno‑economic assessment, and policy research for bio‑based processes. Recognized as a leading European expert on industrial biomass use, he actively builds networks across agriculture, forestry, bio‑chemicals, plastics, biocomposites, industrial biotechnology, and biorefinery. Carus also advises governments in Europe, Asia, and America on bio‑economy policy.

Plastics: A Versatile Material with a Sustainability Edge

Svenja: Plastics are under intense scrutiny—yet you seem to favor them. Why?

Michael: Plastics uniquely combine a wide property range with high manufacturing efficiency. Their low density reduces transport emissions, and many products require less material overall. These factors give plastics a strong sustainability profile compared to alternatives.

Svenja: Is the current criticism unfounded?

Michael: No. Roughly 20% of global plastic production—about 60 million tonnes annually—enters the environment uncontrolled, 8 million tonnes of which reach the oceans. The remaining waste ends up on land, in soil, lakes, and rivers. Additionally, fossil‑carbon feedstocks emit CO₂ at end‑of‑life, underscoring the need for renewable carbon sources such as recycling, biomass, or captured CO₂.

Why Plastics Are Essential, Not Obsolete

Svenja: With almost 80% of Germans viewing plastics as harmful, can we truly solve these issues?

Michael: Alternatives are limited. Metal reserves are finite and mining often violates human rights. Cement relies on sand, a scarce global commodity. In the long term, reinforced concrete may become unsustainable, while plastics—derived from virtually unlimited atmospheric CO₂—offer a renewable, scalable raw material.

"The age of plastics is just beginning. Sustainable plastics must become a priority to restore their reputation," Carus emphasizes.

Industry Responsibility and Past Missteps

Svenja: Who bears the main blame?

Michael: The chemical and plastics industry has historically downplayed problems rather than addressing them. Despite the microplastic crisis being known for over a decade, the sector has avoided public discussion, omitted large waste volumes from EU statistics, and blocked bans on hormone‑active plasticizers and plastic waste exports to developing countries.

Only less than 10% of EU plastic waste is recycled into new products. Thermoplastics can be efficiently recycled if collected in pure form, but the industry’s focus on “communication” rather than concrete action has allowed the crisis to grow. Recent EU measures, including bans on certain single‑use items, reflect this delayed response.

Political Actions vs. Industry Action

Svenja: Are policymakers outperforming the industry?

Michael: While the EU’s ban on oxo‑degradable plastics is a step forward, the single‑use ban is largely symbolic and may trigger unnecessary product bans, diverting attention from real solutions. Effective measures include export bans, landfill bans, mandatory deposits for all beverage bottles, banning intentional microplastics, and promoting high‑quality polymers designed for recycling.

Global standards for polymer biodegradation could mitigate environmental leakage when unavoidable.

Transition to Renewable Carbon by 2050

Carus calls for a clear roadmap to shift from fossil to renewable carbon. He notes that a photovoltaic area the size of 1% of the Sahara—via solar hydrogen and atmospheric CO₂—could power the entire chemical industry with renewable carbon.

Reevaluating the Single‑Use Ban

Svenja: What’s wrong with banning single‑use plastics?

Michael: A plastic coffee stirrer, when properly rinsed, has a lower carbon footprint and can be recycled into new stirrers. A wooden stirrer, unless reinforced with plastic, may not offer the same recyclability or material efficiency. Banning single‑use plastics is essentially a product ban that may prompt a shift to less sustainable alternatives.

Instead, focus should be on selecting materials and end‑of‑life solutions that minimize environmental impact. Many current packaging options—PET bottles, shopping bags, food packaging—are already plastic, and future renewable‑carbon plastics will continue this trend.

The single‑use ban fuels hysteria, but the goal should be rapid transition to truly sustainable plastics, supported by comprehensive disposal and recycling systems that reduce micro‑plastic formation.

Industry Momentum Toward Circularity

Carus remains optimistic: the plastics industry can emerge stronger if it tackles problems head‑on. Recent progress includes the “Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW)”, where about 30 leading chemical companies have pledged to invest €1.5 billion over five years to fund waste‑management, circular‑economy, and recycling projects.

Consumer‑packaging manufacturers are already producing 100% recycled, fully recyclable packaging. On the ground, projects like the Haiti plastic‑collection initiative—expected to gather 300 tonnes of waste this year—demonstrate how local communities can receive benefits such as charcoal, school vouchers, and mobile credit in exchange for plastic, setting a global precedent.

Ultimately, sustainable plastics will require investment, innovation, and cooperation between industry, policymakers, and communities to ensure a resilient, low‑carbon future.