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Plastics consist of fossil fuels, from both a feedstock and energy perspective and thus need to decarbonise. This thesis maps and explores the framings and technologies that surround plastics decarbonisation and the potential mitigation pathway of carbon capture and utilisation. Here, three of the main findings are presented.

By unpacking how EU policymakers understand issues concerning plastics, this thesis exposes how they are mainly conceptualised as a waste issue. This narrow framing of the issues concerning plastics neglects their complexities and systemic nature. The explicit downplaying of climate impact is especially noteworthy. If policymakers do not recognise the connection between plastics and climate change, it is not likely that they will introduce policy measures to address it.