Plastics Recycling: Principles and Practices offers a comprehensive and technically rigorous guide to modern recycling of polymer-based materials. The book covers mono-material and multi-layer packaging, PET bottles, and complex plastic waste streams, integrating polymer science with advanced processing technologies. It explores recycling methods, degradation mechanisms, regulatory frameworks such as EPR and plastic waste rules, and industrial process flows. The text also highlights end-of-life solutions, design-for-recyclability, and emerging innovations including AI-based sorting and digital traceability. Designed for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers, this handbook provides practical insights to support sustainable, circular plastic economy initiatives worldwide

Jeevaraj Pillai, a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA, brings more than three decades of distinguished leadership to the flexible-packaging industry. He currently serves as the Whole-Time Director, President- Flexible Packaging and New Product Development & Director- Sustainability at UFlex Ltd.

As a sustainability leader, Pillai has spent a significant time in advancing circularity within UFlex, most notably through pioneering multi-layer plastic recycling, driving the development of biodegradable packaging capable of degrading under littering scenarios and institutionalizing energy-curing technologies that significantly reduce process-level carbon emissions. He has played a central role in the development of UFlex’s proprietary recycling platforms, including the Relam-250, and has strengthened academic–industry linkages through initiatives such as the Ideation Zone at the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP). His advocacy for AI-enabled process optimization and AI-assisted sorting underscores his commitment to next-generation sustainable manufacturing.

A recognized thought leader in circular-economy transitions, Pillai also leads UFlex’s ESG strategy and global sustainability outreach, contributing to expanded recycling capacity across India, Mexico, Poland and other international locations. He serves on key technical and sectional committees of BIS, ISO and the CII Western Uttar Pradesh Core Group on Sustainability, where he helps shape standards, policy frameworks, and sectorial best practices. His work continues to steer the packaging industry toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient and technologically progressive future.

PART-I: 
A. Recycling Fundamentals
1.Types of Recycling 
2.Use of Recycled Content in Packaging
3.Challenges in Recycling
4.Regulations and Standards
B. Mechanical Recycling
1.Manufacturing of Flakes
2.Granulation Process
PART-II: Recycling- Customized for Specific Materials
1.The Recycling Technology
2.Single-pellet Solution
3.Granule Properties Characterization 
4.End Product Produced using Single Pellet Solution
5.Co-extruded Film Manufacturing using Single-Pellet Solution
6.End Applications: - Recycled PE
7.End applications: Recycled PP
B. Recycling of Hetero-Material Multi-Layer Plastics (MLP)
1.The Recycling Technology
2.Recycled MLP: Granule Properties Characterization
3.End- Applications
C. Recycling of Hetero-material Multi-layer Mix Packaging (aseptic packaging)
1.The Recycling Technology
2.Enzymatic Delamination Technology: Advantages
3.Enzymatic de-lamination Technology: Comparison with the Conventional Hydro-Pulping Process
4.Enzymatic de-lamination Technology: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Recovered Materials
5.End Applications of Recovered Materials
D. Recycling of Post-consumer Rigid PET Bottles
1.The Recycling Technology 
2.Single-pellet Solution
3.Recycled PET: PET Flakes Properties Characterization
4.Recycled PET: PET Chips Properties Characterization
5.Recycled PET: End Product Produced using Single-pellet Solution
PART-III: A. End-of-Life (EoL) Pathways for Non-Recyclable Plastics Waste
1.Introduction 
2.End-of-life Pathways for Non-recyclable Plastics Waste
B. Design for Recyclability: Guidelines for Recyclable Polyolefin Flexible Packaging
1.Introduction 
2.Polymer Selection
C. Quality, Safety and Sustainability in Recycling
1.Testing and Quality Control in Recycled Materials
2.Traceability in Recycling 
3.Future Trends: Towards Intelligent Circularity in Recycling