What does a more sustainable future for plastics look like?

By - Brooks A. Abel & Geoffrey W. Coates

Plastics are among the most important materials of the modern era. Yet, despite their invaluable applications, they are often blamed for problems rooted in misuse. Today, the brightest minds are working to make this material even more sustainable.

Rethinking plastic recycling beyond conventional methods.

By - PubMed Central

Recycling technology is upgrading rapidly and has the potential to reshape plastic waste management. Chemical recycling, biological degradation, and AI-powered sorting boost the sustainability of polymers.

The chemical industry’s circular shift.

By - Jeremy Wallach

The chemical industry is accelerating the shift toward a circular economy through increased use of recycled and circular polymers. Strong regulatory pressure, sustainability commitments from major brands, and growing demand for lower-emission materials are driving this evolution.

New recycling method gives automotive waste a second drive.

By - PlasticsEngineering

Researchers have developed a new recycling method that turns end-of-life automotive polypropylene (PP) bumpers and carbon fibre scraps into high-performance recycled composites.

PCR proves sustainability and aesthetics can coexist beautifully.

By - PlasticsEngineering

Unlike virgin plastics, PCR materials often show variations in colour and texture due to recycling. Industries are now being pushed to redefine the aesthetic and quality of traditional recycling standards.

How reinforcement learning is transforming polymer engineering.

By - PlasticsEngineering

Artificial intelligence is transforming polymer design by replacing traditional trial-and-error methods with reinforcement learning and generative AI models.