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Technological Challenges and Opportunities to Plastics Valorization in the Context of a Circular Economy in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Felix Carl Schultz

    (Department of Economic Ethics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Robert Jaroslav Reinhardt

    (Sustainable Business Consultancy & Research, 53173 Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

The transition to a fully-fledged circular economy (CE) has proven to be challenging for many industries. Despite possible competitive advantages of moving industries towards CE activities, their practical implementation is still limited. This communication article delivers ad interim an identification of technological challenges and opportunities for the European plastics industries to facilitate circularity ambitions. In applying the qualitative-empirical Gioia-method utilizing the GABEK-WinRelan tool, specific technological challenges and opportunities for plastics industries were identified. Major findings indicate that technological challenges for plastics are predominantly seen in (C1) secondary material contamination; (C2) recycling processing issues; (C3) production processing issues; (C4) production material quality issues; and (C5) end-product quality issues, while the opportunities lie in (O1) effective secondary material management; (O2) innovation for chemical recycling; (O3) innovation for production and processability; (O4) innovative materials; and (O5) innovative end-products. This article contributes to the contemporary debate of CE challenges and opportunities to plastics valorization by highlighting the promising role of chemical recycling on a monomer-level as a key facilitator to a circular plastics economy. Further, it was found that technological transitions must be coupled with compatible market incentive mechanisms guided by effective institutional structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix Carl Schultz & Robert Jaroslav Reinhardt, 2023. "Technological Challenges and Opportunities to Plastics Valorization in the Context of a Circular Economy in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3741-:d:1072381
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vasileios Rizos & Arno Behrens & Wytze Van der Gaast & Erwin Hofman & Anastasia Ioannou & Terri Kafyeke & Alexandros Flamos & Roberto Rinaldi & Sotiris Papadelis & Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers & Corrado , 2016. "Implementation of Circular Economy Business Models by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and Enablers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-18, November.
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    4. de Jesus, Ana & Mendonça, Sandro, 2018. "Lost in Transition? Drivers and Barriers in the Eco-innovation Road to the Circular Economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 75-89.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Felix Carl Schultz & Vladislav Valentinov & Julian Kirchherr & Robert Jaroslav Reinhardt & Ingo Pies, 2024. "Stakeholder governance to facilitate collaboration for a systemic circular economy transition: A qualitative study in the European chemicals and plastics industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2173-2192, March.
    2. Felix Carl Schultz & Vladislav Valentinov & Robert Jaroslav Reinhardt & Ingo Pies, 2024. "The circular economy rebound effect: Reconceptualizing rebound approaches and mitigation opportunities from an ordonomic perspective," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(3), pages 374-385, June.
    3. Jowita Trzcielinska & Renata Kaps, 2024. "Impact of Business Environment Perception on Pro-Ecological Activities in Polish Firms," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special A), pages 510-530.
    4. Schultz, Felix Carl & Valentinov, Vladislav & Pies, Ingo, 2025. "The Business Case for Circular Economy: A Co‐Evolutionary Perspective for Integrating Moral Cases Into Circular Economy Business Cases," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 4329-4342.
    5. Felix Carl Schultz & Vincent Czyrnik & Ingo Pies, 2024. "Is there a case for or against patents to incentivize green technologies?: A critical evaluation of innovation incentives for the global north and global south," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Sakdirat Kaewunruen & Xia Qin & Meri Cvetkovska & Marco Lamperti Tornaghi & Meryem Birgül Çolakoğlu & Katerina Tsikaloudaki & Daniel-Viorel Ungureanu, 2026. "New Insights into Technical Challenges and Barriers for Implementing Circular Strategies Within the Built Environment," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-36, February.
    7. Ibrahim NIFTIYEV & Delia DAVID & Marioara IORDAN & Petru HORGA, 2024. "A Multivariate Performance Analysis Of The Plastics Manufacturers: Comparative Analysis Of European Regions," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 19(1), pages 167-188, April.

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