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However, the field suffers from fundamental inconsistencies in terminology and classification that impede scientific communication, technology development, and policy formulation. This study critically analyzes existing classification frameworks for waste plastic valorization technologies and identifies major sources of confusion: (i) ambiguous classification of dissolution processes across physical and chemical recycling categories; (ii) conflation of dissolution with chemical depolymerization despite their distinct mechanisms and products; (iii) inconsistent definitions of pyrolysis and gasification that blur the distinction between fundamentally different thermochemical processes; (iv) arbitrary temperature\u2010based subcategorization of pyrolysis lacking scientific basis; and (v) misleading designation of energy recovery as \u201cthermal recycling.\u201d I propose a coherent classification scheme based on process\u2010type logic: dissolution is repositioned within chemical recycling based on its operational characteristics, chemical recycling and feedstock recycling are explicitly differentiated, and energy recovery is divided into direct (combustion of waste plastic) and indirect (combustion of thermochemically\u2010derived fuels) pathways. This unified framework aims to establish a common foundation for education, research, and evidence\u2010based policymaking in sustainable waste plastic management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/cssc.71177","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T16:58:46Z","timestamp":1792601926000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A Unified Classification of Waste Plastic Chemical Recycling: Pyrolysis, Gasification, Depolymerization, and Dissolution"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6077-4425","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joo\u2010Sik","family":"Kim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Environmental Engineering University of Seoul  Seoul Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Department of Environmental Engineering University of Seoul  Seoul Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_14_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.126163"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_3_1","volume-title":"Towards a Better Definition and Calculation of Recycling: Proposals for Calculating Recycling Yields in Multi\u2010Output Processes and Recycling of Biodegradable Waste, and a Quality Framework for Recycling","author":"Caro D.","year":"2023"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_4_1","unstructured":"European Parliament and Council Directive 2008\/98\/EC of 19 November 2008 on Waste and Repealing Certain Directives 312 2008 3\u201330 Official Journal of the European Union L http:\/\/data.europa.eu\/eli\/dir\/2008\/98\/oj."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wasman.2009.06.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acssuschemeng.4c02551"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_7_1","unstructured":"Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) Strategies for Plastics Recycling APME 1995."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_8_1","volume-title":"Recycling and Recovery of Plastics","author":"Brandrup J.","year":"1996"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_9_1","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardization ISO 15270: 2008 Plastics\u2014Guidelines for the Recovery and Recycling of Plastics Waste 2008 ISO."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_10_1","volume-title":"Environmental and Economic Assessment of Plastic Waste Recycling: A Comparison of Mechanical, Physical, Chemical Recycling and Energy Recovery of Plastic Waste","author":"Garcia\u2010Gutierrez P.","year":"2023"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_11_1","volume-title":"Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the \u201cGold Book\u201d)","author":"IUPAC","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_12_1","volume-title":"Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the \u201cGold Book\u201d)","author":"IUPAC","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_13_1","unstructured":"U.S. Department of Energy Thermochemical Conversion Processes accessed 2 October 2026 https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/cmei\/fuels\/thermochemical\u2010conversion\u2010processes."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_14_1","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardization ISO 15270\u20105:2025 Plastics\u2014Guidelines for the Recovery and Recycling of Plastics Waste\u2014Part 5: Organic\/Biological Recycling 2025 ISO."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0196\u20108904(02)00237\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0961\u20109534(02)00183\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5772\/intechopen.77528","volume-title":"Recent Advances in Pyrolysis","author":"Ibrahim H. 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