Catalytic plastic upcycling protocols are essential for resolving the environmental and economic challenges associated with massive plastic production and disposal, as they convert complex waste streams into value‐added chemicals. We report an efficient acid‐catalyzed upcycling strategy for transforming poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic waste. This innovative process directly yielding dioxolanones (DOXs) can be extended to use POM with various naturally abundant α‐hydroxy acids. This work significantly expands the high‐value chemical portfolio derivable from common plastic wastes. Incorporation of the synthesized DOXs into the poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) backbone results in materials with enhanced thermal stability and superior biodegradability. Critically, this PLLA derivative outperforms both pristine PLLA and cellulose in degradation, marking the first reported instance of PLLA achieving such a result. This research moves beyond simple waste conversion, establishing a robust sustainable utilization strategy that transforms plastic upcycling products into functional monomers for next‐generation, superior biodegradable polymers.
Lee et al. (2026) studied this question.