Development of materials and technologies for control of polymer recycling

The movement toward a recycling-based society through the essential development of recyclable materials alongside technologies for controlling recycling is reviewed. Recently, there has been progress in producing various polymers and technologies with the aim of achieving circulative utilization. For example, the upgrade recycling of commodity plastics, selective transformation of engineering plastics, selective depolymerization of various polymers in supercritical fluids, crosslinking-decrosslinking control using reversible reactions and developments in biomass-based recyclable polymers. Despite great strides taken in the effectiveness, efficiency and precision of these polymers and technologies, further improvements will be required to meet the practical requirements of a responsible sustainable system for the recycling of containers, packages, electric household appliances and end-of-life vehicles all of which are operated in compliance with the recycling laws of Japan. Polymer Journal (2011) 43, 435-447; doi:10.1038/pj.2011.16; published online 16 March 2011