Reducing Thermoplastic Diversity— A Path to Enhanced Circularity

This paper shows that reducing thermoplastic diversity can improve circularity without compromising key performance. Based on 63 interviews and a stakeholder workshop across the Swedish plastics value network, it identifies highest near-term feasibility in high-volume Northern European consumer applications, especially packaging and PE, PP, and PET flows, where design, collection, and recycling can be aligned. More demanding applications remain conditional, and advanced structural composites are outside the current evidence base. Respondents link reduction not only to cleaner material flows and stronger recycling markets, but also to production and economic value: larger volumes of fewer polymers, lower inventory and changeover costs, less start-up waste, and more stable processing. These gains depend on maintaining application-specific properties. Three priorities emerge: (i) circular design; (ii) phasing out hazardous materials while prioritising recyclable polymers; and (iii) aligned regulation across the value network. The results support a staged, application-specific “fewer, better” strategy—not universal substitution.