Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from polymer processing at end-of-use

The whole lifecycle of polymers accounts for ∼3.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions; however, the way we treat polymer waste can have a large impact on these total emissions. While decarbonisation efforts target polymer production and manufacture, the strategic selection of end-of-use management pathways remains insufficiently explored. Here, we evaluate global end-of-use options for polymers by quantifying their associated greenhouse gas emissions. Under a business-as-usual scenario, polymer-related emissions are projected to reach 3.55 GtCO2e annually by 2100. Our findings reveal that enhancing recycling and landfilling could substantially reduce emissions by 30%, while mismanagement practices such as open burning and dumping exacerbate environmental pollution and must be avoided. Notably, incineration with energy recovery results in 39% higher emissions compared to the business-as-usual scenario. It should be excluded from polymer treatment strategies because credits for electricity generation become negligible with decarbonisation efforts. The study provides critical insights to inform policies on sustainable end-of-use polymer management and mitigate the sector's environmental impact.