The global demand for sustainable solutions to environmental pollution and energy scarcity has never been more urgent. In recent years, the concept of "waste-to-resource" has emerged as a powerful paradigm, transforming traditional waste streams into valuable products and green energy carriers. This Special Issue aims to provide a high-impact platform for the latest advancements in circular technologies that valorize waste—whether solid, liquid, or gaseous—into materials, chemicals, fuels, or energy sources.

The issue will explore multidisciplinary approaches, combining green chemistry, electrochemical engineering, environmental biotechnology, material science, and systems analysis to unlock the full potential of waste as a renewable resource. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrated technologies that simultaneously address environmental protection and energy sustainability goals.

Contributions should highlight innovation, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, with relevance to real-world environmental and energy challenges.

This Special Issue responds to the growing global attention on circular economy strategies amid intensifying waste generation, climate change, and energy transition challenges. Advancements in catalysis, electrochemical systems, waste valorization, and environmental life-cycle assessment are enabling the practical implementation of “waste as resource” solutions in both developed and developing contexts. The timing is ideal to compile leading-edge research that supports zero-waste, low-carbon, and resource-secure futures.

Focus Areas:

• Electrochemical, catalytic, and biological conversion of waste into fuels and materials
• Recovery of resources (e.g., metals, nutrients, hydrogen) from solid waste, wastewater and sludge
• Utilization of CO2, biowaste, plastics, and industrial by-products for clean energy and chemical production
• Waste-derived functional materials (e.g., catalysts, adsorbents, nanomaterials)
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), and system modeling
• Circular economy applications in energy, water, and environmental sectors
• Carbon-negative energy systems

Purpose/Objective:

This Special Issue seeks to showcase breakthrough technologies and interdisciplinary approaches that transform waste into valuable resources for environmental and energy sustainability. By bringing together research from across chemistry, engineering, materials science, and environmental management, the issue aims to:

• Accelerate innovation in waste valorization and circular economy
• Promote the integration of waste-based resource recovery into environmental policy and practice
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and policymakers
• Inspire scalable, low-carbon solutions to global waste and energy challenges

Ultimately, the goal is to highlight how waste can shift from being an environmental burden to a key asset in building a sustainable future.

Keywords:

Waste valorization, Circular economy, Resource recovery, Sustainable energy, Green chemistry, Catalytic conversion, Solid waste treatment, Waste-derived materials, Pollution control

Article type:

research articles, reviews, perspectives

Guest Editors:

Dr. Zhijie Chen (Principal Editor), University of New South Wales, Zhijie.chen1@unsw.edu.au

Prof. Xiaoguang Duan, University of Adelaide, xiaoguang.duan@adelaide.edu.au

Prof. Kai Yan, Sun Yat-sen University, yank9@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Prof. Dongle Cheng, Shandong University of Science and Technology, donglelecheng@gmail.com

Submission Guide:

• Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts through the ScholarOne system (https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/encs)
• Submission deadline: 31/12/2025
• Please choose “Waste-to-Resource: Circular Approaches to Environmental Protection and Sustainable Energy” in the article type during your submission
• All articles will be online as soon as they are accepted after peer-review
• Visit our official website to learn more: https://www.sciopen.com/journal/2097-5470