High-Resolution Mapping of the Nordic Plastic Cycle Suggests Capacity Expansion for Both Mechanical and Chemical Recycling.

ABSTRACT: Nordic countries are widely recognized for their leadership in sustainability initiatives and have implemented numerous projects to improve plastic waste recycling and utilization. However, the plastic consumption and waste management in these countries remain insufficiently understood due to the lack of dynamic, high-resolution plastic cycle maps that span the entire lifecycle. Here, we devised a polymer-level dynamic material flow analysis model by integrating data from disparate sources to simulate the historical cycle of 14 groups of polymers (1978-2020) and their recycling potentials by 2050 in five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland). The results show that the average per capita stock in Nordic countries in 2020 reached the saturation level (1100 kg per c

SUBMITTER: Gao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12676422 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature