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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A Circular Economy of Plastics: A vision of redesigning plastics value chains
ClearCircular economy and reduction of micro(nano)plastics contamination
This review argues that transitioning to a circular economy — through better design, recycling infrastructure, and reducing single-use plastics — offers one of the most viable systemic pathways to reducing micro- and nanoplastic contamination of the environment.
System innovation and life cycle thinking in packaging value chain: the circularity of plastics.
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.
Circular economy measures to keep plastics and their value in the economy, avoid waste and reduce marine litter
This review argues that circular economy measures — including improved collection, reuse, recycling, and design for end-of-life — are necessary to keep plastic value in the economy while reducing the estimated 5-15 million tonnes of plastic entering oceans annually. Researchers present a framework of policy and industry measures to transition away from the current linear 'make-use-dispose' model that drives marine litter accumulation.
Plastics in the Circular Economy
This book examines the role of plastics in the circular economy, reviewing how the current linear plastics economy generates environmental problems including microplastic pollution from fossil oil use and unmanaged plastic waste. The authors assess circular economy strategies including recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and design for disassembly as pathways to maintain the benefits of plastics while reducing their environmental footprint.
Circular economy measures to keep plastics and their value in the economy, avoid waste and reduce marine litter
This policy-oriented paper examines how circular economy measures — including improved collection, reuse, and recycling of plastics — can reduce marine litter and keep plastic materials and their economic value in the economy rather than allowing them to leak into marine environments.
An Examination of Microplastics: Environmental Impact, Sustainability, and Recyclability Innovation
This paper examined the environmental impact of microplastics, sustainability implications of current plastic use, and recycling options to address the plastic pollution crisis. It called for a transition toward circular economy approaches that reduce primary plastic production and increase recycled content.
Realising the circular bioeconomy
This policy paper examines how the bioeconomy and circular economy concepts can work together to reduce waste and environmental impact, including from plastic production. Moving toward bio-based, circular systems is part of the long-term solution to the plastic pollution problem.
Towards a circular economy that begins and ends in nature
This policy paper argues that a truly circular economy must be designed with nature in mind, ensuring that economic activity restores rather than degrades biodiversity, including addressing plastic pollution as a key concern.
Circular economy for plastic waste management
This overview chapter discusses circular economy approaches for plastic waste management, covering the history of plastic production and why strong carbon-carbon bonds make plastics so resistant to biological degradation. The chapter argues for redesigning plastic use and recycling systems to prevent plastic from fragmenting into persistent microplastics.
Microplastics in the Environment and the Circular Economy
This paper argues that transitioning from a linear to a circular economy for plastics and synthetic textiles is essential to reducing microplastic pollution, reviewing how material flow changes could cut environmental contamination.
Bio-based plastics in a circular economy: A review of recovery pathways and implications for product design
Researchers reviewed how bio-based plastics — made from renewable plant sources — can be recovered and recycled at end-of-life, finding that the feasibility of eight different recovery methods depends heavily not just on plastic chemistry but on how products are designed, and offering guidance for designers to improve recyclability.
Strategic pathways for sustainable plastic management through a circular economy approach in India
This paper analyzed strategic pathways for sustainable plastic waste management in India through a circular economy lens, examining the environmental and health risks posed by microplastics from inadequate plastic disposal. The authors identify policy, infrastructure, and behavioral interventions needed to reduce India's microplastic burden.
Towards the Rational Use of Plastic Packaging to Reduce Microplastic Pollution: A Mini Review
This review examines how plastic packaging degrades into microplastics and explores strategies for reducing microplastic pollution through more rational use of plastics. The study suggests that shifting from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular economy framework is essential for mitigating the environmental impact of plastics, particularly in aquatic ecosystems where microplastics persist and accumulate.
From #plasticfree to future-proof plastics: how to use plastics in a circular economy. Summary
This report summarized the state of knowledge on plastics in a circular economy, arguing that neither unlimited plastic use nor complete elimination is feasible, and outlining science-based pathways to design, produce, and use plastics more sustainably while reducing microplastic pollution.
The Critical Importance of Adopting Whole-of-Life Strategies for Polymers and Plastics
This review argues that plastics must be managed across their entire life cycle—from design to disposal—to address the growing crisis of microplastic pollution. The authors call for replacing the current 'disposable' mindset with strategies that prioritize durability, recyclability, and eventually biodegradability.
Why the “New Plastics Economy” must be a circular economy
This commentary argues that the 'New Plastics Economy' framework promoted by industry must incorporate genuine circular economy principles — reducing plastic production and ensuring materials are actually recovered and reused — rather than simply shifting responsibility downstream.
Recycling and Reusing Strategies to Prevent Microplastic Generation: a Review
This review examines recycling and reusing strategies for plastic materials as a means of preventing microplastic generation, grounding the analysis in circular economy principles emphasizing resource efficiency through repair, reuse, and recycling. The authors evaluate current methodologies and propose strategies to reduce plastic waste degradation into microplastics, linking waste management practices to pollution prevention outcomes.
Enhanced plastic economy: a perspective and a call for international action
This perspective argues that the current plastic circular economy is too narrowly focused on recycling, reuse, and energy recovery, and calls for an enhanced framework that prioritizes innovation and coordinated international action to reduce plastic pollution. A broader approach targeting all lifecycle stages is proposed.
Technical Report: Rethink waste
This technical report examines waste reduction strategies with a focus on rethinking material flows, plastic waste generation, and the feasibility of transitioning to circular economy approaches to reduce overall waste volumes including microplastic precursors.
Closing the Loop on Microplastics
This chapter examines the challenge of closing the loop on microplastics -- from their pervasive presence in the environment to viable solutions for reducing production, improving waste management, and remediating contaminated systems. The authors review circular economy strategies and evaluate the feasibility of technical and policy interventions to address the microplastic lifecycle.
Circular Plastics Economy: Redesigning Technology and Reimagining Society
This book examines the concept of a circular plastics economy, arguing that technical redesign of materials must be paired with societal transformation to address plastic waste at scale. The authors critique current approaches and propose a more integrated vision combining innovation with behavioral and governance change.
Transitioning to a Sustainable, Circular Economy for Plastics [Workshop Report]
This is a workshop summary report about transitioning the U.S. plastics industry toward a circular economy, covering recycling technology, policy gaps, and business models. While it touches on plastic pollution as context, it is primarily a policy and industry roadmap document rather than a research study on microplastic environmental or health risks.
Strategies for efficient management of microplastics to achieve life cycle assessment and circular economy
This review examines strategies for managing microplastic waste through a circular economy and life cycle assessment (LCA) lens, arguing that current recycling practices and waste disposal methods are inadequate given the sheer volume of plastics entering ecosystems. The authors propose a conceptual framework integrating LCA principles into microplastic management to better quantify ecological risks and guide more sustainable plastic use policies.
Management Strategies for Plastic Wastes: A Roadmap Toward Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability
This chapter reviews strategies for managing plastic waste — including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and circular economy frameworks — as alternatives to landfilling and incineration. Unmanaged plastic waste breaks down into microplastics that spread widely through wind and water, making better upstream management critical for reducing environmental contamination. The authors argue that genuinely circular approaches, where waste is eliminated rather than merely shifted, offer the most effective path to reducing long-term microplastic pollution.