A Review of End-of-Life Pathways for Poly(Ethylene Furanoate) and its Derivatives

Concerns are constantly growing about our dependance on plastics derived from fossil feedstock, leading to the development of bio-based alternatives. The bio-based polyester poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) has attracted increasing attention from the scientific community due to its potential to replace mass-produced poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET), mainly used in the packaging, film and fibre sectors. PEF can be 100% bio-based since both its monomers can be produced from biological resources, and exhibits superior properties compared to PET, such as its mechanical and gas barrier properties. As PEF gets closer to being produced at a large scale and entering the plastic market, its end-of-life management should be carefully studied in order to mitigate its environmental footprint. This review focusses on the state-of-the art of the main scenarios related to polymers waste, including mechanical and chemical recycling, composting and incineration.