Sustainable high-density polyethylene via chemical recycling: From modification to polymerization methods

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is among the most voluminous commodity plastics, which has received increasing public scrutiny about its impact on environment and climate change. There have been many efforts to recycle HDPE chemically, though significant hurdles remain. Toward a closed-loop economy, it is considered appealing to design “HDPE-like” materials, which contain built-in degradable groups and preserve thermal and mechanical properties like HDPE. This review provides a concise overview of three major areas: HDPE recycling methods, preparation of “HDPE-like” materials, and perspective towards more sustainable polymers. Each section includes a few inspiring achievements and challenges of the past decade.