PLA has the highest production of all biobased plastics. Despite its green character, its slow degradation rates raise concerns regarding environmental pollution. The fossil-based PET also degrades slowly in the environment. Since PLA will and PET already constitutes a significant portion of waste streams, effective end-of-life management options are needed for these two engineering polymers. Due to similar applications and properties, post-consumer PLA is anticipated to contaminate PET waste streams, e.g., up to 8 % for packaging waste, causing hazing and degradation in rPET. Selective enzymatic depolymerization of PLA/PET mixtures is herein suggested as an innovative route for plastic waste separation and recycling. The work’s scope was to prepare differently aged PLA and PET samples serving as substrates for enzyme screening to build relations between polymer degradation type and extent and enzyme performance in terms of PLA/PET separation. The first type of polymer substrates derived from chemical depolymerization simulated a pre-treated waste before enzymatic attack: chain scission occurred through hydrolysis or glycolysis reactions resulting in oligoesters where PET- and PLA-degrading enzymes and fungi were screened. The second type of polymer substrates originated from accelerated weathering simulated waste exposed under terrestrial and marine conditions: chain scission occurred via photodegradation and hydrolysis due to moisture. A correlation between the accelerated and natural weathering was also achieved based on the polymers’ color change and MW. Finally, the weathered PLA and PET samples were degraded as single-type polymers and mixtures by the most promising enzymes.

Thermoset plastics, commonly used in household appliance components, are experiencing an annual growth rate exceeding 4% due to their exceptional heat and solvent resistance. Recycling thermosets presents significant challenges due to their cross-linked structures, which traditionally hinder reprocessing and reintegration into production cycles.
Addressing this, this project aims to redefine the production processes of the industrial partner through a circular economy lens. The project investigates innovative methods for recycling production and post-consumer waste, replacing current thermoset polymers with recyclable thermoplastics, including biopolymers. Furthermore, it explores advanced surface finishing technologies with reduced environmental impact.
This study focuses on developing eco-friendly chromium plating processes for phenolic resins. Traditional electroplating of thermoset polymers relies on chemically intensive pre-treatments, hindering sustainability goals. By incorporating conductive fillers—carbon black, graphene, and carbon nanotubes—into the resin matrix, pre-treatment steps such as acid washing and electroless nickel plating can be eliminated. Among the fillers, carbon nanotubes achieved the highest conductivity, enabling a simplified plating cycle that retained comparable coating quality to the conventional method.
The results highlight the potential of conductive fillers to streamline electroplating while aligning with the broader goals of this project: reducing resource consumption, improving recyclability, and advancing green technologies. This integration fosters the development of sustainable, high-performance components, offering significant market opportunities for eco-friendly solutions in household appliance production.
This research activity has been financed by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto (CARITRO, Grant number 2022.0489) within the project “Sviluppo di componenti per elettrodomestici eco-sostenibili tramite materiali plastici innovativi (ELETTROPLAST)”.

Polyolefins, i.e., polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials can provide the thermal, mechanical, processing and cost requirements of the packaging industry. However, the use of these non-renewable plastics challenges the regulatory and societal pressures regarding plastic waste reduction and recycling. Fortunately, plastics can be recycled to produce new articles with comparable applications to the original ones.
Commercial grades of PE and PP are inherently complex materials regarding their molecular weight and distribution, degree of crystallinity, macromolecular constituents, and presence of a myriad of additives. PE/PP components from waste streams present an uncertain composition associated with unknown additives, contaminants, degradation occurred during their first life cycle and, therefore, recycled PE, PP, and their blends are often depicted as inferior materials, which challenge proper characterization and subsequent use.
In our group, PE/PP model blends and real recyclates combined with virgin materials are investigated as closed-loop packaging candidates. Common techniques, especially thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, are combined to study the materials composition and to determine optimal modifications to reach target properties. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are applied to unravel the PE/PP micro- and nano-scale morphologies, to gain deeper insight into the recyclates’ structure and their effect on the final properties of these blends. Relevant findings have been obtained regarding the impact of the composition of discarded polyolefins on their recyclability, thermo-oxidative stability, and physical properties, such as impact strength, electrical conductivity, and environmental stress crack resistance.

Natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) cushions have been developed as a sustainable alternative to plastic-based cushioning materials for fresh produce protection. However, their post-consumer fate must be carefully managed to support effective recycling and waste reduction strategies. This study examines NRLF degradation behavior under three disposal scenarios: (1) reuse, (2) landfill, and (3) water-rich environments, to optimize circular economy applications. Results show that UV exposure significantly accelerates degradation, with NRLF losing ≥60% of its mechanical strength within 7 days, while 35% of foam cell walls break down, leading to a loss of cushioning efficiency [1,2]. In landfill or water-rich environments, NRLF degradation occurs within 2 months, regardless of UV exposure, indicating that it does not persist in the environment like plastic-based foams. In contrast, under reuse conditions, where cushions are collected before disposal, NRLF retains its structure for over a year, supporting circular economy strategies. Unlike plastic foams, which remain unchanged regardless of conditions, NRLF’s degradation behavior suggests that controlled collection, reuse, and disposal methods should be integrated into waste management systems. Understanding these degradation mechanisms enables the design of better end-of-life strategies, including material recovery, reuse, or biodegradable disposal solutions, contributing to sustainable packaging innovation [3,4,5].

Recycling composites is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability. Although these materials are highly durable, their recycling remains challenging and contributes to increased landfill waste. Repurposing composites can mitigate the environmental impact of these materials, conserve valuable resources, and foster a circular economy by reusing them in manufacturing processes [1].
Various recycling strategies mechanical, thermal, and chemical are currently employed, owing to their scalability and cost-effectiveness [2]. However, these methods face limitations, including high energy consumption, reduced fibre quality, and altered fibre morphology [2][3]. In particular, the deposition of charcoal on fibre during pyrolysis negatively affects the mechanical performance of reclaimed carbon fibre.
To address these challenges, researchers are developing novel approaches for recycling thermoset epoxy resins and composites, with a focus on recovering high-value fibres and resin degradation products for reuse [4]. This work examines the potential of a pressurized steam-based recycling process to valorize thermoset resins used in composite manufacturing [2]. By investigating this innovative approach, we aim to establish a more sustainable and efficient manufacturing paradigm that minimizes waste and environmental impact.

The recycling of commonly used polymer blends, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP), remains a major challenge due to their intrinsic immiscibility and the difficulty of separating them in waste streams. Effective compatibilizers and scalable synthetic strategies are therefore essential for advancing a circular economy. Herein, we report the efficient one-pot synthesis of strictly linear HDPE-b-iPP diblock copolymers and iPP-based graft copolymers with HDPE side chains via coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP). The synthesized copolymers vary in their molecular architecture, with either short, narrowly distributed HDPE blocks (Mn = 1,400–2,400 g×mol⁻¹) or multiple HDPE side chains along an iPP backbone. Block copolymers with molecular weights of Mn = 30,000–40,000 g×mol⁻¹ and graft copolymers with Mp = 33,700 g×mol⁻¹ (containing ~4.5 HDPE side chains of Mn = 600 g×mol⁻¹) exhibited the highest efficiency in compatibilizing 30/70 wt% HDPE/iPP blends at low compatibilizer loadings (5–10 wt%). Compared to commercial compatibilizers (INFUSETM, INTUNETM), these copolymers demonstrated superior performance by reducing HDPE domain sizes and forming core-shell structures, which prevent particle debonding and cavity formation under mechanical stress. This work highlights a scalable and efficient route for producing next-generation compatibilizers, contributing to more sustainable plastic recycling.

Polyurethane (PU) is the sixth most used polymer worldwide. Its commercial success, however, has led to significant waste generation. Historically, landfilling was the primary disposal route, but chemical recycling has emerged as a sustainable alternative. Among chemical recycling strategies, re-monomerization via solvolysis stands out for PU waste streams, especially when contamination is high, or virgin-like product quality is required. Glycolysis, employing diethylene glycol, is the most prominent process due to its relatively high-boiling solvent, facilitating reaction temperatures of 160–250 °C under atmospheric pressure. The recovered polyols can be separated from the reaction mixture and reused in new PU synthesis. Despite this potential, PU recycling rates remain low, partly because of the polymer’s diverse forms and customized formulations (e.g., flexible or rigid foams, elastomers). The main goal of this study is to develop a cost-effective approach for transforming post-consumer PU into valuable raw materials. The strategy involves using various pretreatment methods to modify PU waste, enhancing its susceptibility to solvolytic cleavage. In particular, the focus in the current stage of research was on rigid foams derived from commercial polyols and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) polyisocyanates. Pretreatment was applied to produce a homogenous stream with increased surface area and reduced granulometry and glycolysis followed under mild conditions to break down PU into oligomers with added value. The recovered materials were then upcycled demonstrating potential for closed- or open-loop applications; regarding the latter, properly adapted formulations were developed to utilize the recovered materials for the production of construction products, such as waterproof coatings.

Mechanical recycling is widely recognized as the most environmentally friendly method the closed loop regeneration of plastics. Among packaging polymers, polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), often used in beverage bottles, stands as the third most common. Food-contact PET recycling has seen notable growth. However, a major challenge persists: the contamination of recycled PET (rPET) with non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) [1] such as benzene [2, 3]. As NIAS can migrate from rPET into food during conditioning and storage [2, 3], EU regulations defined maximum allowed levels to mitigate public health risks [4]. NIAS contamination limits the use of rPET in food-contact packaging as a result, highlighting the need for a sustainable and cost-effective solution.

In this study, we explore the use of reactive extrusion as an efficient and scalable tool to reduce NIAS levels in rPET [5]. By adding specific pro-degradants to the melt, we aim to selectively alter NIAS precursors while avoiding rPET degradation. In this approach, benzene, a well-known NIAS in rPET originating from improper sorting, is specifically targeted. To evaluate this approach, various reactive extrusion trials were conducted. Advanced analytical techniques sensitive to part-per-million levels of impurities were developed. The integrity of purified rPET was assessed using chain-end titration and intrinsic viscosity (IV) measurements to evaluate molecular weight. Melt rheology, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-mechanical analysis were also performed. Results demonstrate that benzene levels can be effectively controlled through optimized reactive extrusion processes while retaining rPET quality and performance, supporting its increased adoption in food-contact applications.

Plastics are indispensable in scientific research, providing sterile, durable, and versatile solutions for various applications. However, the widespread use of single-use lab plastics within a linear economic model has resulted in substantial environmental and economic concerns. Research institutions worldwide generate an estimated 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, contributing significantly to global plastic pollution [1,2]. Despite this, lab plastic waste remains largely uncharacterised, with limited data on its composition and potential for circular reuse. Current disposal methods, including autoclaving and incineration, contribute approximately 550 kg CO2 per tonne of waste, exacerbating environmental impact [3]. Moreover, the classification of lab plastics as hazardous waste due to potential chemical or biological contamination presents a major barrier to mechanical recycling, even for widely recycled polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [4]. Mechanical recycling has the potential to reduce emissions by up to 3.0 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of plastic compared to virgin plastic production [5]. This study aims to address critical knowledge gaps in lab plastic waste properties and decontamination methods, facilitating their integration into existing recycling infrastructure. By shifting towards a circular economy approach, significant environmental and economic benefits can be realised. A comprehensive assessment of waste characterisation, contamination removal, and recycling feasibility is essential to reducing reliance on incineration and advancing sustainable lab plastic management.

CO2-based polymers have been developed as an innovative class of low carbon footprint materials. These offer the added benefit of replacing toxic chemicals, such as phosgene (in polycarbonates) and isocyanates (in polyurethanes) by safer alternatives for their synthesis.¹-³ Designed to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of traditional polymers, they retain mechanical and chemical properties as good as their fossil counterparts. Although significant progress has been made in synthesizing these CO2-based polymers, especially polycarbonates made from polyols and bis(exovinylene cyclic carbonate)s at room temperature, limited research has focused on their recyclability. To date, aminolysis has been the primary recycling method investigated releasing the offspring alcohols and bisoxazolidones compounds.⁴-⁵ However, achieving truly circular materials requires a more comprehensive exploration of the recycling strategies.

This research project addresses this gap by investigating the recycling of CO2-based polycarbonates through hydrolysis. This approach leads to the direct formation of diols, which can be efficiently separated. The diols can be directly reused to reconstruct polycarbonates, or further valorized into new added-value molecules. Via smart modifications, this process could even enable the recovery of the starting monomers i.e. the bis(exovinylene carbonate), thereby closing the loop and advancing the circularity of these materials. By enabling the recovery and reuse of high-purity monomers, this work contributes to the development of circular polymer solutions. It highlights the potential of CO2-based polymers to serve as truly sustainable materials, reducing dependence on fossil resources, minimizing plastic waste, and transforming CO2 into a valuable resource.

Plastics are abundantly applied in almost every sector of society, from packaging to the automotive industry. Even though European plastic production has decreased since 2018 in order to reduce waste, 54 mt plastic was still produced in 2023 of which almost 80% was fossil based. Polyolefins thereby dominate plastics production(1) and therefore also strongly contribute to polymer waste. Their stability and resistance as well as their cheap production are among the reasons why polyolefins are widely used in daily life. Although these features make them more preferential, they render recyclability difficult. For polyolefin waste treatment, mechanical and chemical recycling methods are considered. Mechanical recycling, employing melting, sizing and extruding, is currently the most practiced recycling method, which has however as drawbacks unwanted degradation and side reactions, leading to reduction in mechanical strength (e.g. downcycling)(2). Alternatively, chemical recycling, depolymerizing polyolefins in smaller building blocks that can be reused, has received attention owing to potential economic and environmental benefits, but it has not found widespread application, owing to the high energy demand and broad distribution of the products(3). The aim of this study is to focus on improving chemical recycling by gaining control over product composition upon polyolefin degradation. In our approach we employ nanoreactors in which the catalytic site could offer substrate selectivity. Here, we show the successful preparation of the nanoreactor templates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficient loading of a model catalyst in these structures and their catalytic activity after encapsulation.

Poly(lactic acid)’s (PLA) life cycle assessment revealed that mechanical recycling of PLA waste has the lowest environmental impact among PLA waste treatment methods.1 However, the efficiency of this method is jeopardized by polymer degradation (hydrolytic and thermo-oxidative via radicals), occurring at elevated temperatures necessary for polymer processing.

In previous studies different multifunctional additives for PLA recycling were synthesized utilizing Activator ReGenerated by Electron Transfer Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ARGET ATRP) and then refunctionalized, so that the final products could act as chain extenders, antioxidants, and mechanical properties enhancers.2,3 PLA-additive blends were mixed inside a laboratory extruder for 30 min to mimic mechanical recycling.

This work aimed to verify the efficiency of the best-performing additive for PLA recycling. The additive was synthesized on such a scale to allow for the PLA-additive blend extrusion on industry-sized machinery. The obtained granulate was re-extruded (recycled) 5 times, which mimics recycling much more reliably than previous tests of one prolonged mixing. The extent of polymer degradation after each cycle was analyzed by observing the molecular weight and viscosity loss with gel permeation chromatography and rheological studies, respectively. Furthermore, between each extrusion cycle, some granulate was injection-molded into standardized test samples, whose impact and tensile strength were tested and compared with values obtained from previous recycling acts. Finally, the antioxidant properties of the additive were checked with a UV-aging test as well.

The research was funded by POB Technologie Materiałowe of Warsaw University of Technology within the Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB) program.

Approximately 80% of the >350 Mt of plastics produced each year becomes waste, equating to 30% of Europe's electricity consumption.1 The widespread use of plastics has driven economic growth due to their lightweight, tunable, and moldable properties. However, their durability poses environmental challenges.2 Current waste management methods like physical recycling and pyrolysis are inefficient. Recently, chemical degradation has been proposed as a sustainable solution to fully recycle and reuse plastics with minimal changes to their properties.3 Here we are introducing a new simple, cost-effective, versatile, and practical approach for the depolymerization of synthetic polymers using simple, effective, and common organic bases, namely tetraalkylammonium hydroxides (TAAOH). Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU) and silicones have been successfully degraded either into their monomers or into value-added products. Depending on the initial polymer, the reaction parameters such as solvent, temperature, concentration, purification methods etc. will vary. However, the depolymerization products can be tuned in a multitude of ways, thereby further demonstrating the versatility of the depolymerization catalyst which are promising 'green' replacements for traditional metal-based alternatives.4