Standardizing Depolymerization: Strategies and Performance Metrics

Abstract

The widespread use of polymeric materials has brought unparalleled convenience and utility, but their environmental persistence presents a critical and growing challenge. As demand increases for sustainable solutions to polymer waste, depolymerization continues to be a promising strategy for achieving true circularity. In this Perspective, we examine depolymerization from a fundamental standpoint, aiming to rationalize the advantages, limitations, and future directions of state-of-the-art technologies. We advocate for standardized reporting practices to enable meaningful comparisons across studies and, in alignment with this goal, we provide key metrics and contextual information throughout the article to support consistent evaluation of different depolymerization strategies. Ultimately, we hope to inspire readers to explore innovative and scalable solutions that advance the transformative potential of depolymerization toward the realization of a circular polymer economy.