Transforming Waste Sulfur into Practical Resources to Realize the Sustainable Future

A sustainable and circular society cannot be realized solely through carbon-based materials.The concept of a circular economy should encompass not only hydrocarbons but also other elements and materials that are abundant yet underutilized.Sulfur, as one of the most surplus industrial byproducts, provides a unique opportunity to implement this broader elemental strategy.Our recent approaches to sulfur-based polymer design demonstrate that surplus sulfur can be transformed into functional materials with recyclability, reusability, and high processability under environmentally harmonized conditions.Beyond these sustainable aspects, sulfur chemistry also offers pathways to create high-value functional polymers, such as optically, electronically, or mechanically responsive systems, thereby bridging sustainability with advanced material performance.Such materials not only contribute to resource circulation but also align with the SDGs, particularly those targeting responsible production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13).Ultimately, expanding material design beyond carbon-centered systems will diversify the foundations of polymer science and help establish a truly circular materials economy.Sulfur chemistry, bridging surplus resources and sustainable functionality, represents one of the most promising pathways toward this goal.