Circular Economy of Polymers - Electrochemical Recycling and Upcycling

Abstract

Our society depends on fossil-based resources for energy needs and feedstocks to make many synthetic organic materials, i.e., polymers. Synthetic polymers from fossil resources amount to over 440 million metric tons annually, and are expected to reach 700 million metric tons by 2030. About 20% of discarded synthetic polymers are recycled globally, about 25% are incinerated, and the balance are added to landfill. While some energy is recuperated through incineration, the overall impact of today’s linear economy principles of “make, use and mostly discard” approach impacts both local and global environment negatively. An alternative to this is a circular economy principle which aims at restructuring the way we think of design, manufacturing, consumption, and waste. By employing circular economy principles, the feedstock for new synthesis will originate from discarded and recycled polymers after their useful life.