Chemistry as a circulatory killer

The transformation to a circular economy is one of the major guiding principles of contemporary environmental and resource policy. Plastics play a key role in this debate: they are durable, versatile and ubiquitous - but also persistent, difficult to recycle and often mixed with hazardous chemicals. Recycling is considered a central solution for reducing plastic waste. But reality shows that global recycling rates are low, the quality of recycled materials is inadequate, and toxic ingredients hinder safe recycling. The article "Addressing the toxic chemicals problem in plastics recycling" explores the question of how a circular plastics economy can succeed without exacerbating health or environmental risks. It was published by researchers from Sweden, Germany, Nigeria and the Netherlands by Cambridge University Press.