Technology and IP Analysis of Upcycled Polymers

Description

Focus on Sustainability and Need for High-performance, Environment-friendly Polymers Drives Advances in Upcycling Technologies

Although use of polymers is steadily increasing globally, the rate of recycling these plastics is still less than 10%, resulting in approximately 50% of the plastic waste getting dumped in landfills. This occurs primarily because existing chemical and mechanical recycling processes have low recycling rates, high energy consumption, and are often expensive to scale, which hinders their adoption. In response, stakeholders in plastic recycling are developing new upcycling approaches that will increase the recycling rate of polymeric waste, are energy efficient, and scale easily.

This research focuses on existing and emerging polymer upcycling technologies and how they improve and add value to plastics' circular economy. The study includes an in-depth analysis of various technological developments in upcycling and the efforts to increase their commercial potential.

The research categorizes upcycling technologies into three distinct categories: polymers to polymers, polymers to molecules, and polymers to materials. These categories are determined by the nature of the final product generated through the process of upcycling polymeric waste.

The studies encompass a range of polymeric waste materials, including but not limited to polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), mixed polymeric waste (MPW), and polyurethane (PUR), each of which undergoes distinct upcycling approaches.

Key Discussion Points:

Advancing the Circular Economy through Polymer Upcycling: Challenges of existing recycling technologies and benefits of polymer upcycling over recycling

Growth Drivers and Restraints: Factors driving the demand for upcycled polymers and challenges associated with their adoption

Technology Ecosystem: A look into research and development (R&D) activities of existing and emerging polymer upcycling technologies and their current technology readiness levels (TRLs)

IP Analysis: Overview of the global patent filing activities of stakeholders in upcycled polymers

Stakeholder Activities: A glance at business strategies such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), partnerships, joint ventures, and funding various stakeholders adopt to strengthen the development of polymer upcycling technologies

Product Code: DAC2

Strategic Imperatives

Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?The Strategic Imperative 8™: Factors Creating Pressure on Growth
The Strategic Imperative 8™
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on Polymer Upcycling Technologies
Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine™
Research Methodology

Growth Opportunity Analysis

Scope of Analysis
Research Segmentation
Primary Topics and Questions the Study Will Answer
Primary Challenges with Existing Recycling Technologies
The Benefits of Polymer Upcycling over Recycling
Growth Drivers
Growth Restraints

Technology Analysis: Polymers to Polymers

Converting Polymeric Waste to Polymers: An Introduction
High Scalability of DE-PE Encouraging Commercialization at Industrial Scale
High Complexity Associated with Polymer Functionalization Limiting its Adoption
Summary: Innovations from Stakeholders in Polymers to Polymers

Technology Analysis: Polymers to Molecules

Converting Polymeric Waste to Additives, Chemicals, and Monomers: An Introduction
Photo-induced Depolymerization Using Sunlight to Upcycle Polymeric Waste
Academia to Research Catalytic Depolymerization, a Promising Upcycling Approach
Greater Feed Flexibility and High Yield Promoting HTL Growth
Biological Depolymerization Encouraging Polymer Upcycling toward Sustainability and Energy-efficiency
Summary of Technology Developments for Polymers to Molecules

Technology Analysis: Polymers to Materials

Converting Polymeric Waste into Nanomaterials: An Introduction
Flashing Polymeric Waste at High Temperatures to Produce Graphene and C Nanotubes
Microwave-based Oxidative Degradation for Upcycling Polymeric Waste
Feedstock Flexibility Increasing Adoption of Pyrolysis for Upcycling Polymeric Waste
Hydrothermal Carbonization Upcycling Polymeric Waste with Production Yields of up to 96%
Dehalogenation Promising a Low-energy Pathway to Upcycle Hard-to-recycle Thermoplastics
Low Production Yield Limiting the Adoption of Electrospinning for Upcycling Polymeric Waste
Summary of Technology Developments for Polymers to Materials

Patent Analysis

The United States Dominating Patent Filing in Upcycled Polymers
Ban on Plastic Waste Exports to Developing Markets Driving R&D in Polymer Upcycling

Funding & Investment Snapshot

Global Economic Slowdown Leading to Decline in Private Investment for Upcycled Polymers
Venture Capital Investment Focusing on Upcycled Polymer Commercialization
Private Funding Focusing on Accelerating Commercialization
Notable Public Funding Activities across the Globe

Growth Opportunities

Growth Opportunity 1: Process Optimization to Support Mixed-waste Upcycling
Growth Opportunity 2: Computational Approaches to Advance Enzymatic Upcycling
Growth Opportunity 3: Accelerated R&D in Upcycling Thermosetting Polymers

Appendix

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL): Explanation

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