Transforming plastics at the interface: Electrochemical re- and upcycling strategies

With the renewed interest in organic electrochemistry, it has evolved into a transformative platform, representing a resource-economic alternative to established redox-aided reactivity while providing unprecedented pathways to novel transformations and unmet selectivities. Addressing the pressing demand for a circular carbon economy amid excessive polymer use, electrochemistry enables precise and mild conversions ranging from degradation to modification of polymer backbones for re- and upcycling. Advanced molecular (photo)electrocatalysis and paired electrochemical processes reimagine plastic waste as valuable chemical feedstocks within an electrified circular economy. This convergence of polymer science and electrochemical innovation promises sustainable material management hardwired into the energy transition. This perspective illustrates the distinct electrochemical modi operandi for plastic waste recovery, exemplified by compelling recent literature examples.