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A Circular Economy of Plastics: A vision of redesigning plastics value chains
Summary
This discussion paper outlines a vision for a circular plastics economy in which plastics are designed for reuse, recycling, and bio-based feedstocks rather than single use and disposal. A true circular economy for plastics would dramatically reduce the amount that fragments into microplastics in the environment.
VTT’s Discussion Paper will present a vision of the circular plastics economy and address the requirements for the change from a linear to a sustainable circular economy. The focus of the paper is on design for circularity, circular business models, recycling technologies and their benefits. We also consider replacing fossil resources with renewable raw materials and energy. The document has been developed in a working group comprising VTT’s top experts in the field of polymer design, plastics processing, product development, recycling technologies, and circular & bioeconomy. The work has been carried out through cross-disciplinary workshops and person-to-person brainstorming sessions.
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