Economic Analysis of Plastics Recycling: Scientific Publications, Markets, and Barriers in the Value Chain
This chapter gives an overview on the economic analyses of plastics recycling in the circular economy: It discusses overall publication activities, markets and the value chain of plastics recycling, barriers to system development, and options for related public policy measures. The results show that the number of economic analyses—while still being well below contributions from other scientific fields—has increased substantially since 2015, leading to a better understanding of economic aspects of plastics recycling systems. On a worldwide scale, developments toward a circular economy of markets and along the value chain can be observed. However, only a limited number of countries have adopted the concept in a rigorous manner, and substantial potentials remain for future development. When looking at the value chains and markets in the circular economy, it becomes clear that their development is determined by multiple framework conditions. Barriers to market development along the value chain have been identified by several studies. In order to develop plastic recycling value chains and markets, it is reasonable to take a systems perspective. This perspective addresses uncertainties and emergence characteristics of plastics recycling value change and further takes into account not only direct but also indirect effect of government policies.
Rothgang, M., M. Böhmel and I. Zinke (2025), Economic Analysis of Plastics Recycling: Scientific Publications, Markets, and Barriers in the Value Chain. In Andrea Buettner and Eckhard Weidner (Hrsg.), Springer Handbook of Circular Plastics Economy. Cham: Springer, 899-914.