Analytica Model for "Analysis of trade-offs of port-sorting plastic packaging"

Material flow analysis of post-consumer plastic packaging waste for EU27+3 and US

The research paper Schmuck et al. (2026) 'Analysis of trade-offs of port-sorting plastic packaging' presents a comprehensive model developed to assess the potential increase in available recycling feedstock under various residual waste to post-sorting scenarios. This model is grounded in established material flow analysis (MFA) principles, with a particular emphasis on mass-conservation to systematically track the movement of post-consumer plastic packaging waste (PPW) across defined system boundaries.

The geographical scope of the model encompasses the European Union (EU27+3) and the United States (U.S.). Within both regions, four performance-based clusters are defined to reflect differences in current PPW management systems and recycling performance levels. This clustering approach enables differentiated scenario analysis while maintaining comparability across regions.

The underlying data are compiled from a broad range of literature sources as well as governmental, NGO and industry reports, thereby ensuring a robust and diversified empirical foundation. All data inputs, assumptions, and methodological choices are transparently documented and referenced in the original publication, allowing for validation, reproducibility, and further development.

Structurally, the modelling framework consists of three submodels: (1) an EU27+3 MFA submodel, (2) a U.S. MFA submodel, and (3) a capital expenditure (CAPEX) submodel. Each submodel incorporates region-specific parameters and clearly documented assumptions, which are summarised within the respective model nodes. For detailed methodological explanations and references, readers are referred to the full research article.