Plastic waste presents a double-edged challenge: environmental burden and feedstock for valuable monomers. An international research team has now reviewed how electrothermal processes, including Joule heating, microwave catalysis, induction heating, plasma-based methods and laser-assisted upcycling, can drive rapid, selective and energy-efficient depolymerisation. In addition, its handpicked content dives deeply into the European Green Deal, its key points and main purpose as well as consequences for the coatings industry. Hybrid processes for large-scale useThe review highlights key mechanisms, recent advances and comparative performances of different techniques. Such strategies could transform plastic waste into a valuable resource for sustainable chemistry.