A Comparative Bibliometric Analysis on Plastic Waste Recycling

The aim of this study is to explore the application trend of the circular economy and research on plastic waste recycling by comparing results from selected databases. The methodology involves developing a bibliometric study based on data from Scopus and the Web of Science Journals & Country Rank, spanning from 2014 to 2023. A total of 2,083 articles were retrieved from these two research databases, with 1,108 and 975 articles coming from Scopus and WoS, respectively. Descriptive bibliographic maps and strategic charts, generated by OriginPro, Excel, and VOSViewer, are presented. The Circular Economy (CE) is a model that eliminates waste, adopts sustainable practices, closes loops in industrial ecosystems, and turns end-of-life products into resources for others. This stands in contrast to the linear economy, which disposes of waste through landfill or incineration. Currently, plastic production is still supported by a resource-intensive paradigm that decouples economic growth from resource consumption. The annual consumption of plastic materials and fossil fuel is projected to triple by 2050, a trend that has attracted significant attention. The introduction of CE has drastically reduced resource consumption. This study compares the Scopus and Web of Science databases regarding current plastic use and recycling of plastic waste. Moreover, it identifies the future contribution of the degrowth economy in managing plastic waste for recycling.