Modular Molecular Editing for Polymer-to-Polymer Recycling of Postconsumer Plastics

Global plastic production has far outpaced recycling capacity, leading to persistent environmental pollution and highlighting the urgent need for efficient end-of-life management. Mechanical recycling suffers from feedstock limitations and property degradation, while traditional chemical recycling often relies on energy-intensive monomer recovery. Modular molecular editing (MME), inspired by gene editing, provides a versatile chemical approach to transform postconsumer polymers directly into high-value polymeric materials. This review outlines the principles of MME, including backbone and end-group editing, and surveys its application across hydrocarbon-chain and heterochain polymers such as polyesters, polyamides, and polycarbonates. MME enables closed-loop polymer-to-polymer recycling, enhances material properties, and supports scalable production with reduced environmental and economic costs. By integrating molecular-level editability with sustainable design, MME establishes a practical framework for high-value recycling, circular material flows, and low-carbon polymer manufacturing.