Themed collection A collection of papers from RSC journals on chemistry and the circular economy

We examine drivers and benefits of adopting circular economy practices for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), a promising low-cost PV technology, identifying key challenges and reviewing research progress towards achieving a circular economy for PSCs.

The current plastic circular economy lacks a uniform framework. It overfocuses on recycling, reuse and energy recovery. An enhanced plastic economy drives innovation and concerted effort in reducing plastic pollution and waste management.

Cathode regeneration and upcycling technologies, aimed at non-destructively recovering and upgrading the electrochemical performance of degraded materials, show excellent flexibility and potential for transforming the LIB industry from a resource-based to a circular economy.

Few studies consider human behaviour and relationship impacts on how people use and manage plastic.

Chemistry, the science of transformation of matter, is fundamental to achieving sustainability through ensuring biogeochemical flows do not transgress planetary boundaries. This requires urgent changes in chemistry education, research and industry.

The petrochemical industry must transition into a circular carbo-chemical industry to respond to three main challenges: shifting hydrocarbon stock, climate change and circular economy.

The solution to plastic pollution is not less chemistry but more, greener chemistry in a circular bio-based economy.

The most relevant approaches to the construction of polymers by exploiting carbon dioxide as a renewable C1 feedstock are highlighted.

This tutorial review focuses on recent advances in technologies for enzyme immobilisation, enabling their cost-effective use in the bio-based economy and continuous processing in general.

The water–energy–food nexus aims to achieve sustainable development by meeting present needs while safeguarding the capacity of future generations.

The advent of lithium-ion battery technology in portable electronic devices and electric vehicle applications results in the generation of millions of hazardous e-wastes that are detrimental to the ecosystem.

Deep eutectic solvents show interesting prospects as more sustainable alternatives for metal separation and recovery.

Developing recyclable polymers provides a solution to materials' end-of-life issues and also an approach to establish a circular materials economy.

Harnessing microbial biofabrication coupled to a protocol inspired by indigenous textile processes, we engineer high-performance biotextiles with a sustainable circular life cycle, including the plant and mineral dyed bioleather sneakers shown.

Selective up-cycling of polyolefins to C(sp³)–H azidated materials was achieved by electrocatalysis. The broad scope, ease of scale-up, and late-stage click-diversification are key features.

A Mn–PNP complex proved to be a suitable catalyst for the transfer hydrogenation of amides, carbamates, urea derivatives and even polyurethanes.

Spent lithium iron phosphate batteries can be successfully regenerated via a pollution-free, short-range, and low-carbon hydro-oxygen repair route.

Various routes for the valorisation of biogas towards methane and methanol and for electricity or hydrogen storage is assessed.

Sustainable fabrication of polyolefin membranes from green solvents to application.

Schematic diagrams of xylose-enriched wastewater treatments and value-added product production by mixotrophic duckweed.

Aluminates have been used as synthetic inorganic pigments due to their structural stability.

Catalysts from nature promoted a circular process for polylactide chemistry, including the polymerization of lactide to polylactide, the depolymerization of polylactide to alkyl lactate, and finally the conversion of alkyl lactate back to lactide.

Lithium-ion batteries are crushed in lime water in an inert N₂ atmosphere to inactivate them. N₂ flow reduces the risk of hydrogen explosion, and water absorbs the reaction heat.

Functionalized silica gels were applied as heterogeneous organocatalysts in PET glycolysis, and were recycled by filtration while preserving high monomer yields over five cycles.

Robust homoleptic zinc catalysts offer new opportunities for recycling polyesters such as poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) to obtain platform molecules in a plastics circular economy approach.

Characterization of the phenolic profile of the hydroethanolic extracts obtained from pineapple peel and crown leaves, and evaluation of their in vitro bioactivity.

Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is one of the central frameworks of the circular economy.

Waste silicon wafer recovered from the solar panel production process acted as a reducing agent for reduction and reductive functionalization of CO₂ with fluoride catalyst.

The extent to which lignocellulose biomass particle size influences the properties of biomass–sulfur composites prepared from these particles was evaluated.

This study quantified the theoretical minimum energy required to recover fertilizer products from different environmental waste streams.

Long-chain polyamide covalent adaptable networks with high strength and short relaxation times were prepared based on a renewable ethylene brassylate and disulfide exchange.

A novel method to standardize and automate material flow/waste mapping in economies by integrating mechanistic engineering models and macroeconomic framework is proposed for identifying pathways to transition towards low carbon/zero waste economy.

Spent coffee waste from espresso machines was used as a renewable filler for the melt processing of sustainable poly(butylene succinate) biocomposites with enhanced exploitation properties.

Direct ink writing of disulfide-based composites offers a practical approach to customizable and straightforward sustainable 3D printing processes including recycling printing wastes, repairing damaged parts, and reducing processing defects.

Self-healing and recycling of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are of great significance towards pursuing a sustainable and circular economy, but remain a huge challenge due to the infusible and insoluble properties of thermoset polymers.