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Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic Waste
Author(s) -
Vollmer Ina,
Jenks Michael J. F.,
Roelands Mark C. P.,
White Robin J.,
Harmelen Toon,
Wild Paul,
Laan Gerard P.,
Meirer Florian,
Keurentjes Jos T. F.,
Weckhuysen Bert M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201915651
Subject(s) - reuse , plastic waste , circular economy , waste management , waste stream , life cycle assessment , waste recycling , environmental science , production (economics) , engineering , ecology , macroeconomics , economics , biology
Increasing the stream of recycled plastic necessitates an approach beyond the traditional recycling via melting and re‐extrusion. Various chemical recycling processes have great potential to enhance recycling rates. In this Review, a summary of the various chemical recycling routes and assessment via life‐cycle analysis is complemented by an extensive list of processes developed by companies active in chemical recycling. We show that each of the currently available processes is applicable for specific plastic waste streams. Thus, only a combination of different technologies can address the plastic waste problem. Research should focus on more realistic, more contaminated and mixed waste streams, while collection and sorting infrastructure will need to be improved, that is, by stricter regulation. This Review aims to inspire both science and innovation for the production of higher value and quality products from plastic recycling suitable for reuse or valorization to create the necessary economic and environmental push for a circular economy.