Recycling, as a topic, encompasses the collection, separation, processing, and reintroduction of post-consumer or post-industrial materials into manufacturing cycles to displace primary raw resources. Scientifically, it involves material-specific pathways such as mechanical and chemical recycling for polymers, re-smelting and refining for metals, and deinking and pulping for paper fibers. Research addresses process efficiency, contamination control, life cycle assessment (LCA), and system-level optimization of material flows within circular economy frameworks. Key metrics include recovery rates, material quality retention, embodied energy, and net environmental impact relative to landfilling, incineration, or virgin-material production.
Plastic waste is one of the world's fastest-growing environmental problems. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 report, global plastic ...
Biotechnology
2 hours ago
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Graphene is an exceptionally useful material for creating batteries, catalysts and electronic devices. Yet producing graphene typically requires temperatures as high as 900°C (1,652°F), limiting energy efficiency and making ...
Nanomaterials
Aug 28, 2026
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141
There is something slightly ridiculous about using a kitchen blender to make graphene. This is, after all, the "wonder material" associated with futuristic technologies. You might reasonably expect its production to involve ...
Nanomaterials
Aug 24, 2026
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Plastic might be the last ingredient you would ever add to a cookie recipe. But a team of researchers is looking to change that. They've programmed yeasts to turn plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins and flavoring ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 24, 2026
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While electronic devices have become an integral part of everyday life, the consumption of critical raw materials and energy demand associated with their production continue to rise. According to the European Commission's ...
Environment
Aug 18, 2026
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The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot ...
Agriculture
Aug 14, 2026
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A review of research published in the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review on single-use plastics argues that tackling the waste problem will require a shift from recycling alone to a broader circular economy approach, ...
Environment
Aug 13, 2026
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New EU restrictions on toxic substances known as "forever chemicals" in food packaging kicked in Wednesday, along with broader rules aimed at cutting packaging waste in the bloc.
Environment
Aug 12, 2026
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A new white paper released by experts at the UTS Business School highlights the risks businesses face if they ignore growing scientific evidence and consumer awareness of the dangers posed by microplastics.
Environment
Aug 5, 2026
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When trying to make more sustainable clothing choices, many consumers follow a simple rule: Choose natural fibers over synthetic ones. Cotton instead of polyester. Wool instead of acrylic. Linen instead of nylon.
Environment
Jul 30, 2026
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