Regarding the plastics sector, there is no doubt that developing a Circular Economy requires proven methodologies to recover and recycle all sources of plastic waste (post-industrial, post-consumer, etc.). By combining these methods with the growth of biobased plastics, we can envision a near future where a socio-economic system uses the carbon contained in plastics in a circular manner. In this scenario, biogenic carbon from biomass would offset losses, leading to fully recycled and fossil-free plastic materials.

Today, less than a third of collected plastic waste within the EU is sent to recycling facilities, and only a third of that amount is actually recycled. Moving towards a 100% recycling rate (or even a significantly higher percentage than today) remains a tremendous challenge.
Consequently, it is crucial to advance scientific and socio-economic knowledge while stimulating innovation to overcome barriers to higher collection and recycling rates.

The vast variety of daily plastic objects consists of a wide range of materials, including numerous polymers and formulations. These often contain an incredibly large number of additives and combinations with other materials, such as polymer, paper, or aluminium films, and glass fibers. Furthermore, plastic objects serve diverse purposes—ranging from packaging and household equipment to cars, buildings, airplanes, and agriculture. This diversity results in multiple types of plastic waste (both post-industrial and post-consumer) and highlights the need for effective collection and sorting methods. Throughout its life cycle, a plastic object involves numerous stakeholders across the value chain, including the chemical and polymer industries, manufacturers, households, retailers, municipalities, waste collectors, and processors. This high level of complexity demands a systemic approach.

Technically, key priorities include developing waste collection and sorting systems, implementing tagging, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, and dismantling complex, multicomponent structures. It is also vital to advance mechanical, chemical, and biotechnological recycling technologies, improve the quantification of contaminants, and design more easily recyclable materials.

On the socio-economic side, essential areas of focus include understanding stocks, flows, and economics; evaluating environmental impacts through life cycle analysis; and studying the dynamics of stakeholders (such as consumer sorting behavior).

Finally, systemic modeling, recycling loop analysis, regulation, and standardization are critical issues that must be tackled.