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Untangling the chemical complexity of plastics to improve life cycle outcomes

Nature Reviews Materials volume 9, pages 657–667 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

A diversity of chemicals are intentionally added to plastics to enhance their properties and aid in manufacture. Yet the accumulated chemical composition of these materials is essentially unknown even to those within the supply chain, let alone to consumers or recyclers. Recent legislated and voluntary commitments to increase recycled content in plastic products highlight the practical challenges wrought by these chemical mixtures, amid growing public concern about the impacts of plastic-associated chemicals on environmental and human health. In this Perspective, we offer guidance for plastics manufacturers to collaborate across sectors and critically assess their use of added chemicals. The ultimate goal is to use fewer and better additives to promote a circular plastics economy with minimal risk to humans and the environment.

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Fig. 1: The life cycle of a plastic product.
Fig. 2: Conceptual package composition label of the future.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Trenor and K. Kortsen for feedback on earlier drafts of the manuscript. K.L.L. was supported by March Marine Initiative (a programme of March Limited, Bermuda). M.J.S. acknowledges support from the Donahue Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and funding from NSF CAS-MNP grant no. 2304991. M.P.S. thanks the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund in Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (grant NE/V01045X/1). M.E.H. was supported by March Marine Initiative and by the Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health (funding from NIH/NIEHS grant P01ES028938 and NSF grant OCE-1840381).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, MA, USA

    Kara Lavender Law

  2. Plastics Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA

    Margaret J. Sobkowicz

  3. Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Michael P. Shaver

  4. Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA

    Mark E. Hahn

  5. Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA

    Mark E. Hahn

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Law, K.L., Sobkowicz, M.J., Shaver, M.P. et al. Untangling the chemical complexity of plastics to improve life cycle outcomes. Nat Rev Mater 9, 657–667 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00705-x

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