This Springer Handbook assembles the existing knowledge concerning plastic materials and identifies obstacles and objectives of innovations and technologies that will bring the human society closer to the goal of a full circular economy of plastic materials.

Consumers profit from the versatile functionalities of plastic materials. Unfortunately, this diversity of applications comes along with numerous problems: Recycling, until now, is still costly and laborious and too many plastic products terminate as waste in the environment. 

The handbook offers a source of information, as a knowledge base and as an inspiration for those who aim at creating a form of economy that paves the road for the generations to come. The editorial board and invited authors represent international key-figures from a broad range of disciplines including chemistry, engineering, material sciences, logistics, data and information sciences, systems engineering, economy and sustainability as well as disciplines related to culture, art, and design. With its diversity, the book aims to fulfill the huge demand on information concerning novel technologies and legal approaches in politics, industry and society.

By allowing the reader to learn and apply the measures needed for the implementation of Circular Plastics Economy, the book will be of particular interest for innovators, decision makers, planners, designers, producers in industry, politics, and society as well as consumers, students, teachers, communicators, journalists, and cultural workers.