Self-sufficient hydrogen transfer integrates plastic upcycling with biomass valorization

Waste plastics and biomass represent abundant renewable carbon resources, yet both remain underutilized due to inefficient recycling and valorization strategies. Here, we present a stoichiometrically self-sufficient hydrogen-transfer platform that directly integrates the valorization of oxygenated plastics with the reductive upgrading of biomass derivatives without external hydrogen or reductants. A bifunctional RuPd catalyst supported on rutile mediates selective hydrogen transfer from plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyoxymethylene (POM), to biomass-derived substrates such as levulinic acid (LA) and guaiacol. Under mild aqueous conditions, the system delivers γ-valerolactone (86%) and terephthalic acid (95%) with high selectivity, a diverse substrate scope, and robust compatibility with real waste streams. Life cycle assessment across multiple functional units demonstrates consistent environmental benefits over conventional routes, including 21–41% lower greenhouse-gas emissions together with reduced resource scarcity and ecosystem-quality impacts. This self-sufficient hydrogen-transfer strategy establishes a modular synthesis platform that unifies plastic upcycling, hydrogen generation, and biomass valorization within a single catalytic system, providing a blueprint for advanced synthetic refineries powered by the complementary reactivity of waste-derived feedstocks.