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Illustration of molecular chain overlaid on image of plastic bottles
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Jessie Ward O'Sullivan

A game-changing method of “upcycling” plastics helps clear the path toward a circular economy

Probably the greatest barrier to recycling plastics is that the quality of the end product is far inferior to the quality of the original product, which disincentivizes would-be recyclers from investing time and resources into the process. But what if there was a way to create high quality plastic from the original material?

In the latest installment of video series “Research in 60 Seconds,” UC Santa Barbara chemical engineer Susannah Scott outlines a game-changing method of “upcycling” plastics, creating high-quality plastic molecules that would increase the appeal of recycling, allow us to repurpose existing plastic, and bring us closer to a circular economy.

Susannah Scott discusses her efforts to develop a new form of plastics.
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Shelly Leachman
Editorial Director
(805) 893-2191
sleachman@ucsb.edu

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