Against the backdrop of the ongoing negotiations on the United Nations Global Convention on Plastic Pollution, acrylic sheet (PMMA) has become a key material for the international community to promote the circular economy due to its high recycling rate, low-carbon production characteristics and diversified application scenarios.

International policy drive: circular economy and carbon reduction demand
The 2023 United Nations Environment Programme report pointed out that global plastic pollution can be reduced by 80% through technological innovation and policy reform. Acrylic sheet has become an environmentally friendly material promoted by the European Union, Japan and other regions due to its 100% recyclable characteristics. For example, Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical uses recycling technology to convert industrial waste into high-quality sheets to reduce oil dependence, and plans to achieve a 50% utilization rate of recycled materials by 2030. In addition, against the backdrop of the United States imposing tariffs on digital acrylic sheets, Chinese companies have consolidated their market share in Europe and Southeast Asia through intelligent production and low-carbon technology upgrades.

Technological innovation: UV resistance and long life advantages
UV-resistant acrylic sheets have become a hot topic in the industry in recent years. By adding "UV-resistant additives", 99% of ultraviolet rays are converted into harmless heat, and the outdoor service life is more than 10 years, which greatly reduces resource waste. The global UV-resistant acrylic sheet market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.3%, and will exceed US$6.3 billion in 2030, especially in the field of photovoltaic building integration.

Industry application: Replacement of glass to high-end transformation
Acrylic sheet has a light transmittance of 92% and weighs only half of glass. It is widely used in building skylights, sound barriers and other fields, helping to reduce building energy consumption by 15%. In addition, the application of acrylic sheet in high-end fields such as medical and optical display continues to expand, promoting the transformation of the global industrial chain to high added value.

International Cases: Synergy between Policy and Market
EU: Belgian Boulder Industries received 32 million euros in funding from the EU to develop closed-loop recycling technology for acrylic sheets, aiming to increase the recycling rate to 70%.
India: Driven by the "Make in India" plan, demand for acrylic sheets increased by 12% annually, and local companies accelerated technical cooperation with China and Japan to promote green upgrades in the transportation and construction sectors.

Future Outlook: Standard Unification and Technology Iteration
International organizations call for the establishment of a transnational material certification system to promote the global recycling industry chain of acrylic sheets. The United Nations Environment Program emphasized: "The efficient use of materials is the core of ending plastic pollution."
In the future, acrylic sheets will focus on two major directions:
High performance: Develop fireproof and weather-resistant products to cope with extreme climate challenges;
Intelligent recycling: Improve the purity of recycled materials through spectral sorting technology and reduce recycling costs.

Driven by environmental regulations and market demand, acrylic boards not only provide green solutions for the construction, transportation, and energy industries, but are also the backbone of the global carbon neutrality goal.