Chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, encompasses a group of technologies that break down the molecules in waste to produce raw materials. This process enables the conversion of difficult-to-recycle plastics, such as multi-layered or contaminated materials, back into "virgin-like" feedstocks that can be used to create new chemicals or plastics. Unlike mechanical recycling, which typically reprocesses plastics without changing their chemical composition, chemical recycling uses techniques like pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization to break down polymers into their basic components. 

The chemical recycling sector has some mature technologies (such as the dominant pyrolysis and gasification), alongside numerous others still in laboratory development, primarily driven by start-ups and small companies. The industry has set ambitious targets, and significant progress will be necessary to achieve them.

• How can you examine input capacities and capitalize on the growth potential of various technologies and regions?
  
• What are the key companies to watch, and which best practices should your team adopt to stay ahead?
  
• How can you optimize your growth strategies based on qualitative analytics of the current state of chemical recycling for various materials like tires, textiles, water treatment sludge, plastics, used cooking oils, and more?