Enzymatic recycling of PE and PP lacks evidence, researchers warn. What it means for plastic circularity

Researchers are pushing back on claims that enzymatic recycling can solve plastic packaging waste. A new report warns that evidence for breaking down PE and PP, the most common plastics, is still thin. Lab demonstrations exist, but commercial scale results are missing. The concern matters for anyone tracking plastic circularity or low-carbon materials. If enzymatic recycling gets counted toward recycled content goals before it is proven, it could create false progress. Companies and policymakers should demand real output data, mass balance verification, and lifecycle energy comparisons before treating it as a climate solution.