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Towards Higher Quality of Recycled Plastics: Limitations from the Material’s Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Ayah Alassali

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstrasse 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Caterina Picuno

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstrasse 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Zhi Kai Chong

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstrasse 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Jinyang Guo

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstrasse 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Roman Maletz

    (Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01796 Pirna, Germany)

  • Kerstin Kuchta

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstrasse 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

The increasing consumption of plastics and plastic products results in correspondingly substantial volumes of waste, which poses considerable environmental burdens. With the ongoing environmental actions, the application of circular economy on this waste stream is becoming inevitable. In this paper, the topics of plastics recycling, circular economy on plastics, and challenges to plastic waste recycling are critically reviewed. In the first part of this paper, the development of research on plastic recycling was viewed from 1950 until 2020 using the scientific database Web of Science, and 682 related studies were found and used to assess the changing research priorities along that timeline. The following sections discuss the potentials and requirements to enhance the quality of the produced recycled plastic, in connection with the factors that currently limit it. In conclusion, the quality of recycled plastic is generally determined by the homogeneity of the recovered plastic feed. There are various strategies which could be implemented to overcome the hindrances identified in the paper and to improve the quality of the recycled plastic, such as working on enhanced product designs for minimised waste heterogeneity and controlling the materials’ degree of contamination by applying advanced sorting.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayah Alassali & Caterina Picuno & Zhi Kai Chong & Jinyang Guo & Roman Maletz & Kerstin Kuchta, 2021. "Towards Higher Quality of Recycled Plastics: Limitations from the Material’s Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13266-:d:691845
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Ayah Alassali & Caterina Picuno & Hanin Samara & Sascha Diedler & Silvia Fiore & Kerstin Kuchta, 2019. "Antimony Mining from PET Bottles and E-Waste Plastic Fractions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-14, July.
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    9. Caterina Picuno & Emile Van Eygen & Marieke T. Brouwer & Kerstin Kuchta & Eggo U. Thoden van Velzen, 2021. "Factors Shaping the Recycling Systems for Plastic Packaging Waste—A Comparison between Austria, Germany and The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    10. Marieke T. Brouwer & Eggo U. Thoden van Velzen & Kim Ragaert & Roland ten Klooster, 2020. "Technical Limits in Circularity for Plastic Packages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-29, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Žaneta Stasiškienė & Jelena Barbir & Lina Draudvilienė & Zhi Kai Chong & Kerstin Kuchta & Viktoria Voronova & Walter Leal Filho, 2022. "Challenges and Strategies for Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastic Waste Management in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. A. P. Aswin & Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent & Syama Sunil & Sumayya Salim & Alwyn Biju & Sherly Williams & Katharine A. Owens & Thava Palanisami, 2025. "Marine Plastic Debris Managed Sustainably Using a Circular Economy Approach on the Southwest Coast of India," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(5), pages 4533-4550, October.
    3. Issam A. Al-Khatib & Jinyang Guo & Kerstin Kuchta & Anas A. Draidi & Sawsan Y. Abu Amara & Ayah Alassali, 2023. "Municipal Solid Waste Composition and Generation with Emphasis on Plastics in Nablus City, Palestine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Nikolas Neumann & Aline Mangold & Julia Schneider & Christian Wölfel, 2025. "Driving a Circular Economy: Nudging and Innovative Strategies for Promoting Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Home-Appliances," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1607-1629, June.
    5. David Sarközi & Zoltan Szabo, 2025. "Brand Image, Impact Of Quality, And Eco-Attitudes: A Study On Post-Industrial And Post-Consumer Plastics In Sustainable Purchasing In Hungary," Economy & Business Journal, International Scientific Publications, Bulgaria, vol. 19(1), pages 113-122.
    6. N. O. Kapustin, 2025. "Prospects for the Development of Plastic Recycling Industry in Russia," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 347-357, June.
    7. Christoph Stallkamp & Justus Steins & Manuel Ruck & Rebekka Volk & Frank Schultmann, 2022. "Designing a Recycling Network for the Circular Economy of Plastics with Different Multi-Criteria Optimization Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Farah Mneimneh & Nour Haddad & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2024. "Recycle and Reuse to Reduce Plastic Waste - A Perspective Study Comparing Petro- and Bioplastics," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 1983-2010, September.

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