From Controversy to Context: Evidence-Based Insights on Chemical Recycling

In this white paper, Rachel A. Meidl, LP.D., CHMM, explores the evolving role of chemical recycling in advancing circularity and sustainability within the global plastics economy. She examines the growing importance and complexity of these technologies in addressing plastic waste, emphasizing that as traditional mechanical recycling reaches its limits in managing mixed, contaminated, and multi-layer plastics, chemical recycling — through processes such as pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerization, and solvent-based purification — offers complementary pathways to recover materials at the molecular level.

The white paper traces the evolution of chemical recycling from concept to commercialization, highlighting its potential to generate high-quality recycled feedstocks and strengthen domestic supply chains while recognizing ongoing challenges related to energy intensity, feedstock variability, economic competitiveness, and regulatory uncertainty. Framed within a systems-level perspective, it underscores that chemical recycling is neither a panacea nor a distraction, but a vital, evolving component of a broader materials management strategy — one that demands coordinated policy frameworks, transparent standards, and evidence-based decision-making to ensure environmental integrity, social equity, and long-term sustainability.

Read the full brief here.