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Plastic Circularity

Data Development, Flow Analysis, and Value Chain Coordination

  • 1st Edition - September 21, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Paul T. Mativenga, Kunle Ibukun Olatayo, Annlizé L. Marnewick
  • Language: English

Plastic Circularity: Data Development, Flow Analysis, and Value Chain Coordination presents a comprehensive framework for tackling the challenge of plastic waste through a… Read more

Description

Plastic Circularity: Data Development, Flow Analysis, and Value Chain Coordination presents a comprehensive framework for tackling the challenge of plastic waste through a circular-economy approach. It explores innovative methodologies for modeling plastic material flows, evaluating sustainability metrics, and enhancing stakeholder participation across the value chain. This essential resource covers critical topics such as lifecycle impact assessments, data building, and stakeholder dynamics, providing actionable insights for transitioning to tighter circularity loops. By offering practical tools and case studies, this book empowers decision-makers to enhance recycling systems and promote sustainable practices, contributing to a more environmentally responsible plastic economy.

Key features

  • Introduces advanced modeling techniques that allow for a thorough analysis of plastic material flows, facilitating a nuanced understanding of sustainability metrics throughout the value chain
  • Highlights the importance of collaboration in driving the transition to a circular economy for plastics by outlining a structured approach for engaging diverse stakeholders
  • Provides readers with concrete strategies and benchmarks to evaluate and improve recycling initiatives and circularity efforts by using case studies and practical tools

Readership

Graduate students, researchers, and professionals interested in environmental science, waste management, and sustainability

Table of contents

Preface
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Book introduction
    • 1.1.1 Circular economy: nature is circular
    • 1.1.2 Principles of a circular economy
    • 1.1.3 How is success measured? Metrics of a circular economy
    • 1.1.4 Vision for a circular plastic economy
    • 1.1.5 Structure of the book

2. Plastics economy and the value chain

  • 2.1 Plastics in the economy
    • 2.1.1 What makes plastic unique and widely used?
    • 2.1.2 Plastic is helping the food industry
    • 2.1.3 Plastic is protecting lives
    • 2.1.4 Plastic: a double-edged sword
  • 2.2 Plastics across the value chain
    • 2.2.1 Plastic material production
    • 2.2.2 Plastic product manufacturing
    • 2.2.3 Plastic product use and waste generation
    • 2.2.4 Plastic waste – waste collection and handling
    • 2.2.5 Sorting
    • 2.2.6 Plastic recycling
    • 2.2.7 Recyclate market
  • 2.3 Plastics in the circular economy
  • 2.4 Potential for circularity across the plastics value chain
    • 2.4.1 Circularity in production
    • 2.4.2 Circularity in plastic use
    • 2.4.3 Circularity at end-of-life
  • 2.5 Summary
  • References

3. Plastic waste and the waste management hierarchy

  • 3.1 Managing plastic waste
  • 3.2 Waste management hierarchy systems
    • 3.2.1 European Union waste hierarchy
    • 3.2.2 R-framework hierarchy
  • 3.3 Circular economy principles and the 6R framework
  • 3.4 Consequences of mismanaged plastics
    • 3.4.1 Plastic leakage
    • 3.4.2 Microplastics
  • 3.5 Summary
  • References

4. Impact and sustainability of plastic

  • 4.1 The impact of plastics and the life cycle assessment
    • 4.1.1 Plastic manufacturing and the environmental impact
    • 4.1.2 Plastic use contributes to environmental impact
    • 4.1.3 End-of-life impact of plastics
    • 4.1.4 Gaps in life cycle assessment of plastics
  • 4.2 Making plastics more sustainable
    • 4.2.1 Economic sustainability of plastics
    • 4.2.2 Social sustainability of plastics
    • 4.2.3 Environmental sustainability of plastics
  • 4.3 Plastics within planetary boundaries
  • 4.4 Sustainability in a circular economy
  • 4.5 Summary
  • References

5. Data building in the plastics value chain

  • 5.1 Role of data in the value chain
  • 5.2 Data sourcing and triangulation
  • 5.3 Challenges to plastic data collection
    • 5.3.1 Diverse data collection systems and frameworks
    • 5.3.2 Variation in data scope
    • 5.3.3 Data confidentiality
    • 5.3.4 Lack of incentives
  • 5.4 Data quality and traceability
  • 5.5 Building data collection capacity
    • 5.5.1 Data build-up on plastic production
    • 5.5.2 Data build-up on plastic consumption
    • 5.5.3 Data build-up on plastic waste generation and management
    • 5.5.4 Plastic waste collection data
    • 5.5.5 Data build-up on plastic waste recovery and recycling
  • 5.6 Summary
  • References

6. Modelling of plastic material flows for sustainable decision-making

  • 6.1 Goal and scope definition
  • 6.2 Modelling flows and system boundaries
    • 6.2.1 System analysis
    • 6.2.2 Flow mass quantification
    • 6.2.3 Graphic representation
  • 6.3 Plastic footprint, trade balance and recycling rate
  • 6.4 Policy interventions across the value chain
    • 6.4.1 Deposit refund system
    • 6.4.2 Tax refund
    • 6.4.3 Mandatory utilisation
    • 6.4.4 Extended producer responsibility
    • 6.4.5 Plastic bag regulation
    • 6.4.6 User pay scheme
    • 6.4.7 Landfill tax/ban
    • 6.4.8 Kerbside collection (door-to-door)
  • 6.5 Summary
  • References

7. Participation and dynamics of stakeholders in the value chain

  • 7.1 Value chain coordination
  • 7.2 Stakeholders across the value chain
  • 7.3 Participation in higher waste management hierarchy options and circularity
  • 7.4 Global partnership towards plastic circularity
    • 7.4.1 United Nations Environmental Programme
    • 7.4.2 World Economic Forum
    • 7.4.3 Ellen MacArthur Foundation
    • 7.4.4 Waste and Resources Action Programme
  • 7.5 Summary
  • References

8. Progress toward plastic circularity

  • 8.1 The concept of pathways to circularity
  • 8.2 Generic approach to modelling pathways to circularity
    • 8.2.1 Modelling the plastics value chain stages
    • 8.2.2 Analysing the material flows of plastics
    • 8.2.3 Identifying available and appropriate circularity strategies
    • 8.2.4 System dynamics modelling
    • 8.2.5 Stakeholder engagement and delivery mechanisms
    • 8.2.6 Data analytics
  • 8.3 Pathway to zero landfill for plastics
  • 8.4 Pathway to recycling of plastic waste
  • 8.5 Summary
  • References

9. Transition towards a world-class system for plastics circularity: Performance and maturity assessment

  • 9.1 Plastic system assessment towards world class
  • 9.2 Performance metric framework for transition to a world-class circular economy for plastics
  • 9.3 Maturity model for plastic system
    • 9.3.1 Ad hoc and unstructured
    • 9.3.2 Structured
    • 9.3.3 Visionary
    • 9.3.4 Integrated
    • 9.3.5 Connected and dynamic
  • 9.4 Summary
  • References

10. Case studies on country transition to a circular plastic economy

  • 10.1 The global plastics value chains and transition towards circularity
  • 10.2 South Africa
    • 10.2.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.2.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.2.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.3 Nigeria
    • 10.3.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.3.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.3.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.4 Egypt
    • 10.4.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.4.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.4.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.5 India
    • 10.5.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.5.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.5.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.6 China
    • 10.6.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.6.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.6.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.7 Germany
    • 10.7.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.7.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.7.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.8 United Kingdom
    • 10.8.1 Plastics production and products manufacturing
    • 10.8.2 Plastics use and waste generation
    • 10.8.3 Plastics waste management and recycling
  • 10.9 Summary
  • References

11. Conclusion

  • 11.1 Book conclusion

Index

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: September 21, 2026
  • Language: English

About the authors

PM

Paul T. Mativenga

Professor Paul Mativenga (he/him) holds a Chair in Multi-scale and Sustainable Manufacturing in the School of Engineering at The University of Manchester, the United Kingdom and is distinguished visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research is in sustainable manufacturing, machining science, micro manufacturing, laser processing, low carbon manufacturing and circular economy. He is Director of the Laser Processing Research Laboratory (LPRL). Paul is excited about developing engineering science solutions to the major challenges of resource efficiency and industrial sustainability. His research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK and Industry. Paul is a member of the International Academy of Production Engineering, College International pour la Recherche en Productique (CIRP), Fellow of the RSA and has editorial roles for SAGE and Elsevier Journals in manufacturing science.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor and Chair, Multi-scale and Sustainable Manufacturing, School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, the United Kingdom; Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

KO

Kunle Ibukun Olatayo

Dr. Olatayo is a circular economy and sustainability researcher with primary expertise in the modelling of plastic material flows, value chain management, resource efficiency, sustainable waste management, and clean energy. He has contributed significantly in these various fields of research, with a number of published articles in reputable international peer-reviewed journals. He is equally a regular reviewer of articles for several journals. Dr. Olatayo holds a PhD. in Development and Management Engineering (North-West University, South Africa); MSc. in Environmental Technology (University of Teesside, United Kingdom); MSc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (University of Lagos, Nigeria); and B.Eng. (Hons) in Civil Engineering (University of Ilorin, Nigeria). He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Postgraduate School of Engineering Management, University of Johannesburg.
Affiliations and expertise
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Postgraduate School of Engineering Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

AM

Annlizé L. Marnewick

Annlizé Marnewick is the Head of the University of Johannesburg’s Postgraduate School of Engineering Management in South Africa. Her research focuses on the integration of sustainability requirements in engineering projects, the impact of digitalisation on projects and the impact on society. She is passionate about developing postgraduate students and co-creating sustainable solutions for the local society. She is a registered professional engineer in South Africa.
Affiliations and expertise
Head, University of Johannesburg’s Postgraduate School of Engineering Management, South Africa

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