Advanced Plastic Recycling: New Article in the prestigious Nature Reviews Materials
Advanced Plastic Recycling: New Article in the prestigious Nature Reviews Materials
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new review article on advanced plastic recycling in Nature Reviews Materials, developed by POLYKEY in collaboration with POLYMAT and Universiteit Gent.
This work focuses on advanced plastic recycling, addressing one of the most critical challenges in the transition towards a circular plastics economy: the treatment of complex, mixed and contaminated plastic waste streams that cannot be efficiently processed through conventional mechanical recycling.
A central aspect of this study is the role of advanced plastic recycling technologies such as solvent-based recycling and depolymerization. These approaches enable the recovery of high-value polymers and monomers from post-consumer and difficult-to-recycle waste, opening new pathways for material circularity.
The review highlights how advanced plastic recycling can complement mechanical recycling rather than replace it. By combining both strategies, the industry can significantly improve resource efficiency and reduce dependence on virgin fossil-based feedstocks.
In addition, the article discusses current limitations in advanced plastic recycling, including scalability, process efficiency, and variability of input waste streams. These challenges underline the need for continued collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate technological development and industrial implementation.
This work was co-led by our Scientific Director, Coralie Jehanno, together with Marta Ximenis Campins, under the supervision of Haritz Sardon Muguruza Sardon, with the contribution of Louise Breloy. Their collaboration reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern polymer science and circular materials research.
Publication in Nature Reviews Materials reinforces the importance of advanced plastic recycling as a key enabling technology for a more sustainable and circular plastics economy.
At POLYKEY, we continue working on bio-based polymers, recycling-derived molecules and advanced materials that support this transition, bridging scientific innovation with real industrial applications. If you want to learn more about our products and technologies click here.
Read the full article here.