Enzymatic recycling and microbial upcycling for a circular plastics bioeconomy
Isabel Pardo, Maria‐Tsampika Manoli, Susana Capel, Alba Calonge-García, M. Auxiliadora Prieto
Abstract
Since the 1950s, plastics have become commodity materials that are present in virtually every aspect of our daily lives. However, the current economic model of plastics is fundamentally linear, with less than 10% of plastics returning to the value chain at their end of life. In recent years, efforts have been dedicated to develop new technologies that can change this model to a circular economy for plastics, including enzymatic recycling and biological upcycling to value-added products. Here, we will review recent advances made in this rapidly evolving field and discuss how further development of these technologies could contribute to reduce the share of postconsumer plastic waste that is diverted toward landfilling and incineration.