Chemical recycling of poly(L-lactic acid) to the cyclic monomer L-lactide is hampered by low selectivity and by epimerization and elimination reactions, impeding its use on a large scale. The high number of side reactions originates from the high ceiling temperature (Tc) of L-lactide, which necessitates high temperatures or multistep reactions to achieve recycling to L-lactide. To circumvent this issue, we utilized the impact of solvent interactions on the monomer–polymer equilibrium to decrease the Tc of L-lactide. Analyzing the observed Tc in different solvents in relation to their Hildebrand solubility parameter revealed a “like recycles like” relationship. The decreased Tc, obtained by selecting solvents that interact strongly with the monomer (dimethyl formamide or the green solvent γ-valerolactone), allowed chemical recycling of high-molecular-weight poly(L-lactic acid) directly to L-lactide, within 1–4 h at 140 °C, with >95 % conversion and 98–99 % selectivity. Recycled L-lactide was isolated and repolymerized with high control over molecular weight and dispersity, closing the polymer loop.