Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE
Artificial intelligence as the key to a circular plastics economy by 2030
The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE has published a new position paper and a comprehensive background report on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the plastics value chain by 2030. The analysis shows that AI is already powerful today and is seen as a key lever for increasing efficiency, quality, and recyclability – but it can only unleash its potential based on interoperable data spaces, clear standards, and viable business models.
The most important findings:
- AI is used technologically, especially in clearly defined applications.
- The bottleneck is the lack of interoperable data structures, not primarily the technology itself.
- Economic efficiency, liability, and regulation determine the scaling from pilot project to continuous industrial operation.
- AI complements classic approaches such as design for circularity and the expansion of (recycling) infrastructure – it does not replace them.
- AI is no panacea, but a powerful tool within a broader transformation process.