Transforming polymers for a circular economy
The accumulation of vast quantities of plastic and other polymeric waste poses a significant environmental risk, both on land and in the oceans. We also lose material that might have significant end-of-life value if recycling and other reprocessing technologies were more cost-effective. The industry has an opportunity to improve the energy and material efficiency of processes that would help recycle, upcycle and deconstruct polymers on scales that are not possible today. It also has the chance to design and manufacture polymers with recycling in mind: enabling, in other words, a more circular economy.