1、epo.orgepo.orgPlastics in transitionTechnologies for plastics waste managementApril 2025PLASTICS IN TRANSITIONTECHNOLOGIES FOR PLASTICS WASTE MANAGEMENT epo.org|02ContentsExecutive summary 5Glossary 101.Introduction 121.1.The challenge of plastic waste.121.2.Policy context.131.3.Technologies for pla

2、stics waste management.141.4.About this report.15 Case study.Smart recognition of recyclables:Integrating AI in circular value chains.16 Case study.Reengineering the DNA of bottles:from PET to PEF,from lab to market.182.Technology trends in plastics waste management 202.1.General technology trends.2

3、02.2.Specific technologies.233.Origins of innovation 273.1.Regional trends.273.2.Top applicants.303.3.Focus on European startups and universities.33 Innovation highlight 1.Removing plastics from water.37 Innovation highlight 2.AI for plastics waste management.404.Conclusions and outlook 41Annex 441

4、Methodology 441.1.Using patent information.441.2.Methodology of this EPO technology insight report.441.3.Patent retrieval.441.4.Data sources and tools used.461.5.Notes on the limits of the study.462.Information on non-international patent families 47 Contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Techn

5、ology trends|3.Origins of innovation|4.Conclusions|AnnexPLASTICS IN TRANSITIONTECHNOLOGIES FOR PLASTICS WASTE MANAGEMENT epo.org|03List of tables and figuresTables Table E.1:Top 20 applicants in plastic waste recycling technologies(IPFs,1990-2023)8Table 1:Growth in IPFs in plastics-related waste man

6、agement solutions and all technologies(annual average growth rates,1975-2023)21Table 2:Top 5 Technologies in the beginning of each decade(IPFs and cumulative share of IPFs,1990-2023)23Table 3:Specific technologies(IPFs,1990-2023)24Table 4:Top countries in plastics waste management technologies(IPFs,