sustainability Article Extending Multilevel Statistical Entropy Analysis towards Plastic Recyclability Prediction Philippe Nimmegeers 1,2 , Alexej Parchomenko 3,4 , Paul De Meulenaere 5,6 , Dagmar R. D’hooge 7,8, Paul H. M. Van Steenberge 7 , Helmut Rechberger 3 and Pieter Billen 1,* 1 Intelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
[email protected] 2 Environmental Economics (EnvEcon), Department of Engineering Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium 3 Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, Austria;
[email protected] (A.P.);
[email protected] (H.R.) 4 VITO, 200 Boeretang, 2400 Mol, Belgium 5 CoSys-Lab, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
[email protected] 6 Flanders Make—Ansymo/Cosys Core Lab, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium 7 Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 125, 9052 Ghent, Belgium;
[email protected] (D.R.D.);
[email protected] (P.H.M.V.S.) 8 Centre for Textiles Science and Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 70a, 9052 Ghent, Belgium * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: Multilevel statistical entropy analysis (SEA) is a method that has been recently proposed to Citation: Nimmegeers, P.; evaluate circular economy strategies on the material, component and product levels to identify critical Parchomenko, A.; De Meulenaere, stages of resource and functionality losses. However, the comparison of technological alternatives P.D.; D’hooge, D.R.; Van Steenberge, may be difficult, and equal entropies do not necessarily correspond with equal recyclability.