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New Technologies for the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain
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Researchers conducted a systematic literature review using the ReSOLVE framework to analyze how emerging technologies enable the transition to a circular economy in the plastics value chain. They found that four technology sets — Industry 4.0, distributed economy models, biological systems, and chemical recycling — act as complementary enablers rather than individual solutions, and that systemic governance changes are needed to overcome adoption barriers.
Plastic waste has risen to the forefront of scientific and political debate as a global problem that needs to be addressed urgently. The circular economy model, supported by politicians, academics and corporations, represents a viable pathway to achieving a more sustainable level of development. New and disruptive technologies can accelerate the transition to a circular economy, but their application to the plastics transition is not yet fully understood. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper aims to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition to a circular economy in the plastics value chain, their potential impact, and the barriers to their adoption and diffusion. Using the ReSOLVE framework, the analysis shows that four technology sets related to Industry 4.0, the distributed economy, biological systems and chemical recycling are the main enablers of the transition to a circular economy, rather than individual technologies. The complementarity of technologies and the changes required from a systemic perspective are discussed, as well as governance and implementation proposals to overcome barriers and resistance to the transition. To date, the research literature has not systematically analysed how new technologies that have been identified as enablers of the circular economy relate to the dynamics of plastic value chains. In addition, there is a great need to better understand how innovative technologies can provide more sustainable solutions in value chains and how more circular alternatives to plastic waste management and recycling can be leveraged. Understanding the opportunities not only from the perspective of individual firms and business models in plastics value chains, but also from a systemic perspective, is key to developing meaningful and effective forms of governance to shape and support the transition to a circular economy. Intending to fill this gap in the literature, the paper seeks to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition to a circular economy in the plastics value chain, their potential impacts, and barriers to adoption and diffusion.
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New Technologies for the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain
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This systematic review examined how emerging technologies — including Industry 4.0, distributed economies, biological systems, and chemical recycling — can enable the transition to a circular economy in plastics value chains, finding that coordinated technology sets rather than individual innovations are the key drivers of sustainable plastic waste management.
Emerging Technologies Supporting the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain
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Researchers reviewed how emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence, bio-based materials, and chemical recycling — can accelerate the transition from a linear "make-use-discard" plastic economy to a circular one where plastics are continuously reused. The study finds that no single technology solves the plastic waste problem; instead, coordinated sets of complementary technologies, supported by smart governance, are needed.
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This review examines the current landscape of plastic recycling technologies -- including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological depolymerization methods such as pyrolysis -- evaluating their readiness for circular economy integration. It concludes that while recycling rates remain below 10% globally, emerging technologies offer pathways toward closed-loop plastic supply chains, though full-scale implementation requires further development and performance assessment.
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This review examines the barriers to a circular plastic economy, concluding that mechanical recycling alone is insufficient and nearing its technical limits, while advanced methods such as chemical depolymerization and dissolution recycling face high costs and market underdevelopment, requiring coordinated regulatory, design, and infrastructure changes to close the recycling gap.
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