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Towards circular plastics within planetary boundaries

Author

Listed:
  • Marvin Bachmann

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Christian Zibunas

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Jan Hartmann

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Victor Tulus

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Sangwon Suh

    (University of California)

  • Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez

    (ETH Zürich)

  • André Bardow

    (ETH Zürich)

Abstract

The rapid growth of plastics production exacerbated the triple planetary crisis of habitat loss, plastic pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Circular strategies have been proposed for plastics to achieve net-zero GHG emissions. However, the implications of such circular strategies on absolute sustainability have not been examined on a planetary scale. This study links a bottom-up model covering both the production and end-of-life treatment of 90% of global plastics to the planetary boundaries framework. Here we show that even a circular, climate-optimal plastics industry combining current recycling technologies with biomass utilization transgresses sustainability thresholds by up to four times. However, improving recycling technologies and recycling rates up to at least 75% in combination with biomass and CO2 utilization in plastics production can lead to a scenario in which plastics comply with their assigned safe operating space in 2030. Although being the key to sustainability and in improving the unquantified effect of novel entities on the biosphere, even enhanced recycling cannot cope with the growth in plastics demand predicted until 2050. Therefore, achieving absolute sustainability of plastics requires a fundamental change in our methods of both producing and using plastics.

Suggested Citation

  • Marvin Bachmann & Christian Zibunas & Jan Hartmann & Victor Tulus & Sangwon Suh & Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez & André Bardow, 2023. "Towards circular plastics within planetary boundaries," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(5), pages 599-610, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-022-01054-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-01054-9
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    1. Kai Li & Hauke Ward & Hai Xiang Lin & Arnold Tukker, 2024. "Economic viability requires higher recycling rates for imported plastic waste than expected," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Meng Jiang & Yuheng Cao & Changgong Liu & Dingjiang Chen & Wenji Zhou & Qian Wen & Hejiang Yu & Jian Jiang & Yucheng Ren & Shanying Hu & Edgar Hertwich & Bing Zhu, 2024. "Tracing fossil-based plastics, chemicals and fertilizers production in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Guilherme Pessoa Nogueira & Gabriel Palma Petrielli & Mateus Ferreira Chagas & Isabelle Lobo de Mesquita Sampaio & Liliana Zanelli de Oliveira Martins & Tassia Lopes Junqueira & Edvaldo Rodrigo Morais, 2024. "Sustainability synergies and trade-offs considering circularity and land availability for bioplastics production in Brazil," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Alexander Ahrens & Gabriel Martins Ferreira Batista & Hans Christian D. Hammershøj & Emil Vincent Schwibinger & Ainara Nova & Troels Skrydstrup, 2024. "Unveiling the mechanism of triphos-Ru catalysed C–O bond disconnections in polymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Lorenz P. Manker & Maxime A. Hedou & Clement Broggi & Marie J. Jones & Kristoffer Kortsen & Kalaiyarasi Puvanenthiran & Yildiz Kupper & Holger Frauenrath & François Marechal & Veronique Michaud & Roge, 2024. "Performance polyamides built on a sustainable carbohydrate core," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 640-651, May.

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