Alternative plastics
Alternative plastics encompass a range of innovative materials designed to prevent and address the environmental challenges posed by conventional plastics. This domain includes bioplastics, which are either bioderived (sourced from renewable resources like plants) or biodegradable (capable of safely breaking down and returning to nature). Additionally, it covers advanced polymers engineered for circularity, such as covalent adaptable networks (CANs) that enable reprocessing and recycling, self-repairing polymers that extend material lifespans and polymers synthesised from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or organic waste. It transforms pollutants into valuable resources. Such advancements help to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, keep materials in use longer, minimise toxic spill, recover waste for reuse and create sustainable, closed-loop systems for plastic production and consumption.
- Design for durability
Design for ease of recycling and/or durability refers to the intentional creation of materials and products that are optimised for circularity, focusing on both molecular-level innovations (such as covalent adaptable networks and self-healing polymers) and product design strategies. This approach ensures that materials can be easily recycled, reprocessed or reused without degrading their performance or integrity. At the molecular level, this includes the use of dynamic covalent bonds that allow for reversible bond exchange. At the product design level, it involves developing products that are modular, repairable and optimised for disassembly to extend their lifespan and reduce waste. These approaches aim to minimise environmental impact and maximise resource efficiency, while supporting sustainable production and consumption systems.
Covalent adaptable networks (CANs)
Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are polymeric networks with dynamic covalent bonds that undergo reversible exchange reactions, enabling reshaping, repair and recycling while preserving or restoring material integrity. As a molecular-level strategy for circularity, CANs minimize waste and extend material lifetimes by allowing controlled reprocessing without degradation. Depending on the bond exchange mechanism, CANs can be associative (vitrimers) i.e. maintain network connectivity, or dissociative i.e. temporarily break and reform bonds. This adaptability makes CANs a key innovation for sustainable, high-performance materials that can be reprocessed across various industries.
Dissociative covalent adaptable networks
Dissociative covalent adaptable networks CANs are a class of polymers that form CANs with dynamic covalent bonds undergoing dissociative exchange reactions. In this mechanism, bonds reversibly break and reform under specific conditions (e.g., heat, pH, or light), temporarily disrupting the network structure before re-establishing connectivity. This enables enhanced processability, recyclability and responsiveness, making dissociative CANs suitable for applications that require full material flow, degradation or reformation, such as self-healing coatings, shape-memory materials, smart polymers and stimuli-responsive systems. Unlike conventional thermosets, dissociative CANs are designed for circularity, allowing repeated reuse and reprocessing without exiting the sustainable material cycle.
Vitrimers
Vitrimers are a class of polymers that form covalent adaptable networks (CANs) in which dynamic covalent bonds undergo associative exchange reactions. Unlike dissociative CANs, vitrimer networks continuously maintain connectivity while their bonds rearrange, allowing for reshaping, self-healing and recyclability without loss of mechanical integrity. This unique behaviour makes vitrimer materials durable, repairable and reprocessable, ensuring their long-term use in high-performance and load-bearing applications such as aerospace composites, automotive parts, adhesives, electronics and medical devices. Their ability to be repeatedly reshaped without degrading their mechanical properties makes them a sustainable alternative to conventional thermosets. It also extends the lifespan of materials in demanding environments.
Self-repairing adhesives
Self-repairing/self-healing polymers are materials designed as a molecular-level strategy for circularity to autonomously repair damage (e.g., cracks or scratches) through dynamic bonds or embedded healing agents, activated by specific stimuli (e.g., heat or light). This ability extends their lifespan, as well as reducing waste and the need for virgin materials. These polymers are increasingly used in industries where durability, longevity and reduced maintenance are essential. Such industries include coatings, adhesives, electronics, biomedical applications, packaging, infrastructure, textiles, automotive, tires and aerospace. Self-healing adhesives are materials capable of autonomously repairing damage through dynamic bonds or microcapsules. Beyond extending product lifespans, this also reduces waste in applications like electronics, automotive and construction.
Self-repairing tires
Self-repairing tires use advanced polymers with dynamic bonds or embedded sealants to automatically mend punctures. In addition to enhancing durability, safety and sustainability, this also reduces maintenance and waste.
Self-repairing coatings
Self-repairing coatings utilise dynamic polymers or microcapsules to autonomously mend scratches and cracks, extending the lifespan of surfaces in automotive, electronics and construction while reducing waste.
Self-healing hydrogels
Self-healing hydrogels are soft materials with dynamic bonds that autonomously repair damage. This makes them ideal for biomedical applications like wound dressings, drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Self-repairing films and laminates
Self-repairing films and laminates use dynamic polymers to autonomously mend scratches or tears, enhancing durability and lifespan in packaging, electronics and protective coatings.
Self-healing polymer compositions
Self-healing polymer compositions incorporate dynamic bonds or microcapsules to autonomously repair damage. This extends material lifespans in applications like coatings, composites and adhesives.
Self-healing polymer architectures; preparation thereof
Self-healing polymer architectures are designed with dynamic bonds or embedded agents, enabling autonomous repair. Their preparation involves tailored synthesis to optimise healing efficiency and material performance.
Self-repairing concrete/asphalt
Self-repairing concrete and asphalt incorporate bacteria, polymers or capsules that activate upon damage, autonomously filling cracks to extend infrastructure lifespan and reduce maintenance costs.
Self-healing polymers in cable coatings and conductors
Self-repairing polymers are materials capable of autonomously mending damage through mechanisms like dynamic bonds or microcapsules, extending product lifespans and reducing waste in applications like films and coatings in electronics and medical products.
Self-healing polymers for protheses and dentistry preparations, bandages, wound dressings and other medicinal preparations
Self-healing polymers in medical applications autonomously repair damage, enhancing durability and functionality in prostheses, dental materials, bandages and wound dressings, improving patient care and reducing replacement needs.
Self-repairing textiles
Self-repairing textiles use polymers with dynamic bonds or coatings to autonomously mend tears or abrasions, extending garment lifespans and reducing waste in fashion and industrial applications.
Self-repairing polymers for specific electrical applications
Self-repairing polymers in OLEDs, solar cells, batteries, electrolysers, fuel cells, and capacitors autonomously mend damage to enhance device longevity, efficiency and sustainability in advanced electrical systems.
- Design for ease of recycling
Design for recyclability refers to the intentional design of products with consideration for how they will fit into technical or biological cycles after use. This ensures they can be recycled in an environmentally friendly and economically efficient way at the end of their life. It involves selecting recyclable polymers, choosing non-toxic additives and facilitating easy disassembly.
Designed packaging for ease of recycling
Designed packaging for ease of recycling focuses on mono-materials, simplified structures and standardised labelling to streamline recycling processes.
Designed containers for ease of recycling
Designed containers for ease of recycling use mono-materials, modular designs and minimal additives to simplify sorting and reprocessing, reducing waste and promoting circularity in packaging systems.
Recyclable polymeric layered products
Recyclable polymeric layered products are designed with compatible materials and structures to enable easy separation and recycling. This reduces waste and supports sustainable manufacturing practices.
Recyclable materials for additive manufacturing
Recyclable materials for additive manufacturing include polymers designed for reuse, enabling sustainable 3D printing processes that minimise waste and support circular economy principles.
Designed adhesives for ease of recycling
Designed adhesives for ease of recycling use reversible bonds or compatible formulations, enabling uncomplicated separation and reprocessing of materials.
Designed coatings for ease of recycling
Designed coatings for ease of recycling use compatible, separable or degradable formulations, simplifying material recovery and reducing waste in packaging, automotive and industrial applications.
Textiles made of polymers for ease of recycling
Textiles made of natural or synthetic polymers include materials like cotton, polyester or bioplastics, specifically designed to facilitate recycling for fashion, industrial and technical applications.
Polymers in cable coatings and conductors
Polymers in cable coatings and conductors provide insulation, durability and flexibility, enhancing performance and safety in electrical systems while supporting sustainable material choices.
Films and laminates designed for easier recycling
Films and laminates designed for easier recycling use mono-materials or separable layers, simplifying reprocessing and reducing waste in packaging and industrial applications.
Footwear made at least partially from recyclable materials
Footwear made partially from recyclable materials uses sustainable polymers or biodegradable components. This reduces their environmental impact while maintaining durability and performance in shoes and boots.
- Polymers from Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions and organic waste
Polymers derived from greenhouse gases and organic waste are produced by converting carbon from CO₂, methane and organic waste streams (e.g. urban biowaste, wastewater sludge) into valuable materials. This process upcycles harmful emissions and discarded biomass. It also reduces dependency on fossil fuels and supports a regenerative circular economy by sequestering carbon and keeping it in the production cycle, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. The polymers derived from such processes can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
Synthesis from CO2
CO₂-based plastics are made by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or industrial emissions, transforming it into valuable materials. This process captures CO₂ that would otherwise contribute to climate change, thus acting as a form of carbon sequestration. By converting emissions into plastics, the carbon is kept out of the atmosphere for the product's lifetime.
Synthesis from urban biowaste (PHAs from organic waste)
The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from organic waste harnesses the unique ability of certain microorganisms to convert carbon-rich food waste into usable resources. This creates an opportunity to transform growing urban organic waste streams from a disposal problem into a sustainable solution for bio-polyester production. PHA production can be decentralised, reducing both waste management costs and its carbon footprint. PHAs are produced by microorganisms under stress conditions and stored as energy reserves. They are biocompatible, fully biodegradable and decompose naturally, even in marine environments; thus fitting harmoniously into natural cycles. Thanks to their versatility, PHAs are suitable for a wide range of applications from packaging and personal care products to agricultural and biomedical applications.
Synthesis from wastewater treatment sludge
Synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from wastewater treatment uses activated sludge to feed bacteria, which produce these fully biodegradable bio-polyesters as an energy reserve. Mimicking how humans produce fat, PHA is the bacteria's ancient carbon storage mechanism. This method supports waste-to-resource strategies and helps to reduce emissions, waste and reliance on fossil-based plastics, while advancing the global shift towards a regenerative circular economy.
PHA production from methane gas
The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from methane uses this greenhouse gas, which is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, as a feedstock. Specific microorganisms, known as methanotrophs, can convert methane into PHAs through specialised metabolic pathways, using CH4 as both a carbon and energy source. The use of methane as a feedstock facilitates a low-cost, highly scalable process. This method decouples plastic production from fossil fuel feedstock, paving the way for a technological development that supports the transition from a linear economy model to a circular one.
- Industrial applications of bioplastics
Industrial applications of bioplastics are characterised by their versatility and sustainability, offering a variety of functional alternatives to traditional plastics across sectors, while maintaining performance and resource efficiency.
Bioplastics in packaging
Bioplastics in packaging provide sustainable solutions for food, consumer goods and industrial products. They not only offer durability, barrier properties and compostability, but also reduce reliance on conventional plastics.
Bioplastics in cosmetics and detergents
Bioplastics in cosmetics and detergents are used for containers, capsules and films. They offer eco-friendly, durable and safe alternatives that align with sustainability trends in personal care industries.
Bioplastics in electronics
Bioplastics in electronics are used for casings, components and insulation. They provide lightweight, durable and sustainable alternatives that meet technical requirements and are more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics.
Bioplastics in textiles
Bioplastics in textiles are used for fibres, coatings and accessories. They offer sustainable, biodegradable alternatives that enhance functionality and reduce the environmental footprint of the fashion and textile industry.
Bioplastics in automotive
Bioplastics in automotive applications are used for interior panels, upholstery and components, providing lightweight, durable and sustainable materials that improve fuel efficiency and reduce the automotive sector’s environmental impact.
Bioplastics in construction
Bioplastics in construction are used for insulation, panels and composites, offering sustainable, durable, and lightweight alternatives that enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of building materials.
Bioplastics in agriculture
Bioplastics in agriculture are used for mulch films, plant pots and irrigation systems. They provide biodegradable, durable and eco-friendly solutions that support sustainable farming practices.
Bioplastics in food packaging
Bioplastics in food packaging offer sustainable solutions for trays, films and containers, ensuring freshness, safety and compostability while reducing reliance on conventional plastics.
Bioplastics in containers
Bioplastics in containers provide eco-friendly alternatives for storage, transport and consumer goods By combining durability, lightweight properties and compostability they meet sustainability goals across industries.
Bioplastics in healthcare
Bioplastics in healthcare are used for sterile packaging, medical devices and drug delivery systems. They combine biocompatibility, sustainability and performance to meet stringent safety and environmental standards.
Bioplastics in packaging foams
Bioplastics in packaging foams offer lightweight, cushioning and insulating properties for protective packaging, combining sustainability with performance to reduce the environmental impact of shipping and storage.