Circular Economy of Plastics: From Plastics Recycling Towards Feedstock Transformation
Author(s): Peter Orth (Editor), Jürgen Bruder (Editor), Ulrich Liman (Editor), Manfred Rink (Editor)
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: October 2, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 680 pages
ISBN-10: 3031788281
ISBN-13: 9783031788284
Book Description
This unique book provides comprehensive and holistic information on the circular economy of plastics – products and their design for circularity, markets and producer responsibility, recovery of wastes and resource responsibility, and plastics manufacturing with circular feedstocks. The central part of the book is on circularity and circular feedstocks, embedded in a framework of chapters on the relevant properties of plastic as a material, its ecosystems and mass streams across Europe on the one hand and of chapters on Life Cycle Analysis and Product Carbon Footprint, on digitalisation, logistics, and standardization on the other hand. Comprehensive information is provided on relevant EU-regulation and on national regulation in Europe, too. A knowledge body contains information on relevant associations and networks, on recent studies on the topics mentioned, and an extensive glossary. Thus the book is a compendium of information on the dynamically evolving realm of the circular economy providing insight and clarity into complex and puzzling structures and positions. The book addresses professionals in a wide range of industries together with scholars and students in science and technology as wells as policy makers, authorities, and the media.
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
The book looks at all stages of the plastic value chain: Production with renewable raw materials instead of oil, waste avoidance, recycling and the necessary use of recyclates, thermal treatment for unavoidable and non-recyclable waste. Martin Faulstich
To achieve our climate targets, we need climate-neutral plastics. For this purpose, the following circular raw materials are available: Recyclates, biomass, and CO2. The life cycle of plastics must not end at the factory gate, product design must consider the end of life. Plastic waste must be valued to motivate consumers to collect and sort it. André Bardow
Plastic is in most cases the most climate-friendly option and, as a hidden climate champion, is an important building block in the fight against the climate crisis. Philipp Lehner
The book delves into the complexities of creating a closed-loop system for plastics exploring challenges and opportunities associated with recycling, feedstock diversification, and technological advancements. Peter Vanacker
Contents
Plastic – the material
Circular Economy of Plastic – product , markets, wastes, raw materials
Circular feedstock – renewable carbon sources
LCA, PCF, Digitization, Standardization
Regulatory framework and recycled content quota
Target groups
Decision-makers and experts in the industry
Students, lecturers, scholars in academia
Policy makers, national and international public authorities
NGOs and business media
The editors Dr. Peter Orth was Managing Director of German and European plastics associations. Dr. Jürgen Bruder was Managing Director of national and international plastics associations. Dr. Ulrich Liman was Senior Manager with the plastics industry in Germany, Japan and China. Manfred Rink has worked in management positions in the automotive and plastic industry.
About the Author
Dr. Peter Orth is a chemist by education; with OPC – Orth Plastics Consulting he leads a group of senior consultants with decades of professional experience in leading positions in the German and European plastics industry and their associations; the focus of his activities is on innovation and sustainability in cooperation with science, industry and politics. He is currently working in the fields of the circular economy of plastics and circular feedstock for plastics. Dr. Juergen Bruder is a chemist by education; he is acting as senior consultant for the plastics industry focussing on the transformation of the industry towards a circular economy mainly addressing plastics packing and plastics applications for sustainable farming. Dr. Ulrich Liman is a chemist by education and has decades of experience in R&D in the chemical and polymer industry for polyurethane and polycarbonate applications with living experience in Germany, the US, Japan and China. Manfred Rink is a mechanical engineer by education; he is acting as senior consultant for the plastics industry focussing on future trends in the industry and resulting chances and risks; he actually is investigating the impact of a circular economy on the industry.
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