On behalf of our premium member – Kaunas University of Technology, we would like to invite contributions to our forthcoming edition, “Innovative Approaches to Handle Plastic Waste and Foster Bio-based Plastics Production”, from scholars, researchers, and practitioners engaged in the field. The book will touch upon themes such as plastic waste management strategies, innovations in recycling technologies, smart materials, as well as policy, regulations and consumer behaviour. Additionally, it seeks to investigate the newest trends, methods, and innovations driving circular plastic waste handling.
The book will be published by Springer Nature, as part of the World Sustainability Series, the leading peer-reviewed book series on matters related to sustainable development: https://www.springer.com/series/13384
We invite original and high-quality chapters on (but not limited to) the following themes:
• Advanced Plastic Waste Management Strategies
• Chemical recycling technologies (e.g., pyrolysis, depolymerization, solvolysis)
• Enzymatic and microbial plastic degradation
• Smart sorting and automated separation techniques
• Waste-to-energy conversion methods
• Upcycling of plastic waste into high-value materials
• Circular economy models for plastic waste reduction Biodegradation and Microbial Solutions
• Development of plastic-degrading enzymes and bacteria
• Study of microbial consortia for enhanced plastic breakdown
• Bioremediation techniques for plastic-contaminated environments
• Understanding degradation pathways of synthetic and bio-based plastics Bio-based Plastics and Sustainable Polymers
• Development of fully biodegradable and compostable plastics
• Bio-derived monomers and their polymerization mechanisms
• Use of agricultural residues, algae, and food waste as feedstocks
• Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of bio-based plastics
• Lifecycle assessment and environmental impact analysis of bio-based materials Innovations in Recycling Technologies • Advanced mechanical recycling techniques for multi-layered plastics
• Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven recycling processes
• Hybrid recycling methods combining mechanical and chemical processes
• Development of high-performance recyclates for diverse applications Sustainable Packaging and Product Design
• Eco-friendly packaging alternatives to conventional plastics
• Development of reusable and refillable packaging solutions
• Design for recyclability (DfR) and extended producer responsibility
(EPR) models
• Biodegradable coatings and barrier materials for food packaging Policy, Regulations, and Consumer Behavior
• Global and regional policies on plastic waste management
• Economic incentives for sustainable plastic production and disposal
• Public awareness campaigns to promote responsible plastic usage
• Behavioral studies on consumer acceptance of bio-based plastics Nanotechnology and Smart Materials
• Nanocellulose and nanocomposites for bioplastics enhancement
• Self-healing and smart biodegradable plastics • Controlled-release bioplastics for agriculture and medical applications
Other themes may also be considered upon the discretion of Editorial Team.
To contribute, please send a 200 words abstract, along with the names and full contact details of all authors to: linas.kliucininkas@ktu.lt, by 20th April 2025.
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