Green Polymer Materials for Circular Economy and Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues,

Producing more than 2.5 billion tonnes of waste a year, the European Union has forced the European Parliament to take appropriate legal measures and promote the transition to a more sustainable model known as a circular economy. This means using raw materials more efficiently, keeping waste to a minimum, and extending the life cycle of products through repeated use (repair, reuse, recycling, and remanufacture). Green polymer materials made from (bio)degradable and/or renewable and/or recycled raw materials can help to prevent and partially reduce waste and contribute to more sustainable life cycles. Furthermore, carbon-neutral energy should be used to produce such polymers, and the end products can be reused or recycled, including organic recycling (processed into compost or biogas). (Bio)degradable and/or renewable and/or recyclable plastics have a lower carbon footprint and may, in some cases, exhibit more favorable material properties in many applications. This Topic welcomes papers that address interdisciplinary approaches aimed at the development of (bio)degradable and/or renewable and/or recyclable polymer materials for environmental, packaging, and medical needs.

Dr. Joanna Rydz
Dr. Marta Musioł
Dr. Barbara Zawidlak-Węgrzyńska
Dr. Alena Opálková Šišková
Dr. Cristian Peptu
Prof. Dr. Darinka Christova
Topic Editors