This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the reaction mechanisms and kinetics of various chemical recycling methods for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), including ammonolysis, aminolysis, hydrolysis, alcoholysis, and glycolysis. The study highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms to optimize chemical recycling processes and achieve a circular economy. It discusses the degradation performance of each method, their suitability for a circular economy, and the factors influencing their efficiency, such as catalysts, solvents, and heating modes. The review emphasizes that glycolysis is the most promising chemical recycling method for PET, as it can efficiently degrade PET into its monomer, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), under mild conditions. The synergistic effect of reaction mechanisms and advanced heating techniques, such as microwave-assisted methods, significantly enhances the degradation process. Heterogeneous catalysts with large surface areas are found to be effective in promoting PET degradation and offer environmental and economic advantages due to their reusability and ease of separation. The review also identifies key areas for future research, including the development of novel heterogeneous catalysts that induce synergistic reaction mechanisms and the advancement of technologies like microwave heating. The study concludes that glycolysis, with its high BHET yield, mild reaction conditions, and reusability, is a promising approach for PET recycling, and further research is needed to improve its economic feasibility and scalability.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the reaction mechanisms and kinetics of various chemical recycling methods for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), including ammonolysis, aminolysis, hydrolysis, alcoholysis, and glycolysis. The study highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms to optimize chemical recycling processes and achieve a circular economy. It discusses the degradation performance of each method, their suitability for a circular economy, and the factors influencing their efficiency, such as catalysts, solvents, and heating modes. The review emphasizes that glycolysis is the most promising chemical recycling method for PET, as it can efficiently degrade PET into its monomer, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), under mild conditions. The synergistic effect of reaction mechanisms and advanced heating techniques, such as microwave-assisted methods, significantly enhances the degradation process. Heterogeneous catalysts with large surface areas are found to be effective in promoting PET degradation and offer environmental and economic advantages due to their reusability and ease of separation. The review also identifies key areas for future research, including the development of novel heterogeneous catalysts that induce synergistic reaction mechanisms and the advancement of technologies like microwave heating. The study concludes that glycolysis, with its high BHET yield, mild reaction conditions, and reusability, is a promising approach for PET recycling, and further research is needed to improve its economic feasibility and scalability.