Circular Economy

Some microorganisms can “eat” plastic by using it as a carbon and energy source. These tiny organisms could inspire the recycling methods of tomorrow.

In a recent study published in Polymer Composites, researchers led by Sütcüler et al. unveiled a lab-scale process to manufacture continuous carbon fiber (CCF) filaments using recycled PETG (rPETG).

Carbon black pigments blocked NIR sorting, hindering black plastic recycling, but new industry innovations are now solving the issue.

Researchers are trying a different approach to composite building materials by using sand as filler and polypropylene waste as a binder.

With Project 2025 underway, what is the bio-based polymer research and development trajectory?

Smart nanocomposites based on PLA and ZnO push bioplastics closer to real-world performance, offering strength, thermal stability, and sustainability in one simple film.

Shrink films made in Colombia set a new benchmark for sustainable packaging, delivering circular economy benefits without sacrificing quality or appearance.

PVOH coatings offer plastics professionals a powerful tool for oxygen-sensitive packaging when designed for real conditions.

A new large-scale recycling method uses mechanochemical devulcanization to recover and reuse EPDM rubber, enabling circularity without performance loss.

A new one-step, room-temperature extraction method enables accurate, non-targeted quantification of Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) in Polystyrene.