Abstract |
Plastics offer several advantages, but their productionand disposalprocesses have severe environmental implications. To overcome theseissues, there is a need to switch from the linear to a circular economyby recycling plastic waste and by utilizing renewable resources tocreate bioplastics. However, this is challenging in the case of nonbiodegradablepolyolefins (POs), which form the largest fraction of produced polymersand the least recycled one. Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling,and PO bioplastics are the three pillars of PO circular economy. Althoughmechanical recycling is an environmentally and economically viableoption, it often results in the degradation and downgrading of POs.Nonetheless, innovations in mechanical recycling, such as the useof (nano)fillers or compatibilization with olefin block copolymers,attempt to mitigate these issues. Furthermore, the development ofcovalent adaptable networks improves the mechanical properties ofrecycled PO thermoplastics and provides recyclable PO elastomers.If mechanical recycling fails to meet the desired characteristicsof the recyclate PO, chemical recycling to other chemicals is a potentialalternative. Although retrieving the monomer is ideal for achievinga closed-loop circular economy, traditional approaches for the noncatalyticchemical recycling of POs are energy-intensive and lack specificity.This has been tried to be addressed by advancements in catalytic approaches.Finally, biobased polyolefins, especially those produced through emergingnonbiochemical approaches, offer attractive alternatives that canbe integrated into existing petrochemical plants. With this comprehensiveperspective on POs circular economy academic and industrial researchersof the field can better contribute to a more sustainable future. |