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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.
Plastic waste has come to the forefront of academic and political debates as a global problem that demands an urgent solution. Promoted by policymakers, academia, and corporations alike, the circular economy model presents a viable path to reach more sustainable levels of development. Emerging and disruptive technologies can catalyse the transition to a circular economy, but their application to the transition of the plastic materials realm is not fully understood. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this paper aims to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition towards a circular economy in the plastic materials value chain, their potential impact, as well as the barriers of adoption and diffusion. Employing the ReSOLVE framework, the analysis reveals that rather than individual technologies, four technology sets associated with Industry 4.0, distributed economies, bio-based systems, and chemical recycling stand as major enablers of this transition. The complementarity of technologies and the change needed from a systemic perspective are discussed along with a proposal for governance and practical implementation pathway to overcome barriers and resistance to the transition.
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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.
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.
Are Reliable and Emerging Technologies Available for Plastic Recycling in a Circular Economy?
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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.
The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Creating a Roadmap Towards a Circular Economy for Plastics
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This paper examines how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help transition the plastics industry toward a circular economy. AI tools can optimize recycling processes, predict material degradation, and identify opportunities to reduce plastic waste before it enters the environment.
Advanced technologies for plastic waste recycling: examine recent developments in plastic waste recycling technologies
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This review examines cutting-edge approaches to plastic waste recycling beyond conventional mechanical methods, covering chemical recycling, biological degradation, and AI-enhanced sorting systems. Each technology is evaluated for its potential to address the growing global plastic waste crisis. Together, these advances point toward more efficient and scalable pathways for recovering value from plastic waste streams.
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