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Traceability as an Enabler of Circular Economy in the Plastics Packaging Value Chain
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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.
Abstract The growing use of plastic packaging poses significant environmental challenges. While circular economy (CE) strategies offer potential solutions, their broader implementation faces several barriers. Traceability—traditionally linked to safety and risk management but now encompassing sustainability—has been proposed as a key enabler of CE. This study explores the role of traceability in promoting circularity in the plastic packaging sector through interviews with public and private stakeholders. Findings reveal diverse views on traceability’s potential, with a strong emphasis on recycling. Respondents noted that traceability can provide critical data on material composition, performance, sustainability impacts, supply chains and regional material flows. These insights can support regulatory compliance, product design, risk management, and the development of safer, more efficient and sustainable recycling systems.
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