Sustainable Solutions and Challenges towards Polymeric Waste Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability and Circular Economy principles are becoming fundamental for Society and Industry. Plastics and other fossil-based materials constituent of daily life products are becoming a serious problem for the environment due to their processing impacts and low biodegradability.

Many studies have been published proposing product and process innovation, which may contribute to reducing the burden of fossil-based products in the future. There is really no one solution, but a set of complementary and alternative activities and technologies may altogether contribute to reducing the production and impact of petrochemical-derived plastics and polymers.

The aim of this Special Issue of the journal Materials is to publish original research and review articles tackling the problem of petrochemical-derived polymers and plastic materials, reporting environmentally sustainable solutions such as:

• Recovery, recycling and reuse of plastic waste as secondary primary starting material;
• Alternative processes, including catalytic, for the substitution of petrochemical-derived materials with biopolymers;
• Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost evaluation;
• Innovation in the production chain and waste management;
• Environmentally sustainable products and process.

Dr. Valentina Beghetto
Guest Editor

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