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Emerging Technologies Supporting the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain

Aristi Capetillo, Alejandro ; Bauer, Fredric LU orcid and Chaminade, Cristina LU (2023) In Circular Economy and Sustainability 3(2). p.953-982
Abstract
Plastic waste has come to the forefront of academic and political debates as a global problem that demands an urgent solution. Promoted by policymakers, academia, and corporations alike, the circular economy model presents a viable path to reach more sustainable levels of development. Emerging and disruptive technologies can catalyse the transition to a circular economy, but their application to the transition of the plastic materials realm is not fully understood. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this paper aims to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition towards a circular economy in the plastic materials value chain, their potential impact, as well as the barriers of adoption and diffusion.... (More)
Plastic waste has come to the forefront of academic and political debates as a global problem that demands an urgent solution. Promoted by policymakers, academia, and corporations alike, the circular economy model presents a viable path to reach more sustainable levels of development. Emerging and disruptive technologies can catalyse the transition to a circular economy, but their application to the transition of the plastic materials realm is not fully understood. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this paper aims to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition towards a circular economy in the plastic materials value chain, their potential impact, as well as the barriers of adoption and diffusion. Employing the ReSOLVE framework, the analysis reveals that rather than individual technologies, four technology sets associated with Industry 4.0, distributed economies, bio-based systems, and chemical recycling stand as major enablers of this transition. The complementarity of technologies and the change needed from a systemic perspective are discussed along with a proposal for governance and practical implementation pathway to overcome barriers and resistance to the transition. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Circular economy · Emerging technologies · Plastics value chain · Sustainability transitions · Systematic literature review · ReSOLVE framework
in
Circular Economy and Sustainability
volume
3
issue
2
pages
953 - 982
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:36065416
  • scopus:85171375779
ISSN
2730-5988
DOI
10.1007/s43615-022-00209-2
project
STEPS – Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways, Phase 2
Petrochemicals and Climate Change: Mapping Power Structures
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bcf2653b-33f2-4cac-a2f6-49c8cfa38e51
date added to LUP
2022-08-01 20:00:43
date last changed
2024-01-20 03:28:06
@article{bcf2653b-33f2-4cac-a2f6-49c8cfa38e51,
  abstract     = {{Plastic waste has come to the forefront of academic and political debates as a global problem that demands an urgent solution. Promoted by policymakers, academia, and corporations alike, the circular economy model presents a viable path to reach more sustainable levels of development. Emerging and disruptive technologies can catalyse the transition to a circular economy, but their application to the transition of the plastic materials realm is not fully understood. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this paper aims to understand the role of key emerging technologies in the transition towards a circular economy in the plastic materials value chain, their potential impact, as well as the barriers of adoption and diffusion. Employing the ReSOLVE framework, the analysis reveals that rather than individual technologies, four technology sets associated with Industry 4.0, distributed economies, bio-based systems, and chemical recycling stand as major enablers of this transition. The complementarity of technologies and the change needed from a systemic perspective are discussed along with a proposal for governance and practical implementation pathway to overcome barriers and resistance to the transition.}},
  author       = {{Aristi Capetillo, Alejandro and Bauer, Fredric and Chaminade, Cristina}},
  issn         = {{2730-5988}},
  keywords     = {{Circular economy · Emerging technologies · Plastics value chain · Sustainability transitions · Systematic literature review · ReSOLVE framework}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{953--982}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Circular Economy and Sustainability}},
  title        = {{Emerging Technologies Supporting the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00209-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s43615-022-00209-2}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}