We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
An Integrated Analysis of Plastic Packaging Value Chain: Identifying Barriers and Enablers for a Circular Economy
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed the full plastic packaging value chain to identify barriers and enablers for transitioning to a circular economy, tracing the evolution of circular economy concepts and quantifying the environmental impacts associated with exponential plastic waste growth. The study provides an integrated framework mapping opportunities for intervention across production, use, collection, and recycling stages.
This study investigates the exponential growth of plastic waste, a critical global environmental concern exacerbated by rapid population expansion.It examines the packaging plastic value chain by focusing on associated environmental impacts, challenges, and opportunities for advancing a circular economy (CE).The objectives are to trace the evolution of the CE concept, identify key opportunities and implementation barriers, and devise strategies for enhancing its effectiveness.Through a systematic literature review and qualitative interviews, the research delineated the complexities in the lifecycle of post-consumer packaging plastics.The findings highlighted that CE efficacy was significantly influenced by interrelated factors, including product design, consumer behaviour, collection systems, sorting efficiency, and economic viability of mechanical and chemical recycling pathways.Although CE models are promising, this research indicated that the complete elimination of plastic waste remained an uncertain goal.The study, therefore, advocated a comprehensive transformation of the plastic value chain, necessitated by challenges such as heterogeneous waste streams, inconsistent quality of recycled output, and competing economic factors.It is concluded that strategic investments in research, recycling-friendly design, advanced recovery methods, and efficient sorting are essential for producing cost-effective and high-quality recycled products, thereby moving beyond incremental efforts toward a systemic solution.
More Papers Like This
System innovation and life cycle thinking in packaging value chain: the circularity of plastics.
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper examines the role of circular economy principles in reducing plastic packaging waste, noting that despite existing recycling systems, plastics remain pervasive environmental contaminants. The authors argue that redesigning packaging systems for recyclability and reducing over-packaging are essential steps to address microplastic pollution at its source.
Plastic Waste Management for Zero Waste to Landfills: Potential, Challenges, and Opportunities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed global plastic waste management performance within a zero-waste-to-landfill framework, finding that the linear economy model driving plastic production has outpaced collection and recycling infrastructure, leaving significant contamination across all environmental compartments even in regions with market access.
Plastic packaging flows in Europe: A hybrid input‐output approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers modeled plastic packaging material flows across the EU using a hybrid input-output approach, mapping supply chains by polymer type, packaging form, and application category to reveal that packaging represents a major fraction of plastic consumption with significant gaps in end-of-life recycling infrastructure.
Traceability as an Enabler of Circular Economy in the Plastics Packaging Value Chain
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed how traceability technologies — digital tracking of materials through supply chains — can act as a practical enabler of circular economy strategies for plastic packaging, finding that greater material transparency helps overcome key barriers to collection, sorting, and recycling at scale.
Zero-waste circular economy of plastic packaging: The bottlenecks and a way forward
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed why plastic packaging recycling rates have stalled and identified key bottlenecks including difficult-to-recycle plastics like polystyrene and PVC. They propose simplifying the system to focus on four recyclable plastics (PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE) and treating them in two streams to move toward a true zero-waste circular economy.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.