Bridging Green Chemistry and Circular Economy: A Pathway to Sustainable Polyester Plastics Through Feedstock, Synthesis, and Waste Upcycling

Polyester plastics have become integral to modern life due to their favorable physicochemical properties, cost-effectiveness, and broad industrial applicability. Unfortunately, the growing consumption and disposal of polyesters have led to mounting concerns regarding the corresponding carbon emissions and persistent pollution release, presenting a critical challenge for the construction of sustainable future. Conventional mechanical recycling is constrained by polymer downgrading with limited value retention. Alternatively, emerging green catalytic technologies present promising pathways for converting polyester wastes into high-value chemical feedstocks with reduced energy input and environmental impact. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the sustainable synthesis and management of polyester plastics, encompassing both petroleum-derived and bio-based polyesters. Emphasis is placed on green monomers synthesis and polymerization strategies, catalytic valorization and upcycling approaches that boost the feedstocks recovery and enable resource circularity. Collectively, these insights aim to guide the development of a low-carbon, high-efficiency, and sustainable circular economy for polyester plastics.