Welcome to the third issue of the PRecycling newsletter! Since our last newsletter in September, we have made significant progress across multiple activities in several work packages (WPs), completing 10  deliverables and reaching 5 key milestones. One of our deliverables, D1.2, which reviews the best practices used in industry and EU countries for calculating, verifying, and reporting recycled plastic content in products, was led by Coolrec, and will be soon available to the general public. We have successfully completed our first review period and held two productive physical meetings in Gjøvik, Norway, hosted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and in o Porriño, Spain, hosted by AIMEN.

Looking ahead, we expect to accomplish 2 new deliverables in the upcoming weeks, including one public deliverable, and to achieve 3 additional milestones.

Recent developments in PRecycling include significant achievements across various WPs: In WP2, we advanced the scale-up of the solvent-based recycling process developed by Fraunhofer IVV for removing legacy additives and impurities from plastic waste streams (PP, ABS, HIPS, PA). We also progressed in analysing the degradation of waste streams and selecting upcycling routes specific to each material type.

In WP3, we defined the recyclate sampling and sample preparation methodology and set acceptance criteria for recyclates intended for different demonstration cases, such as home appliances, toys, and textiles.

In WP4, the material/substance flow analysis (SFA), has been applied to identify waste sources from home appliances and toys that contain additives, tracing their paths to recycling processes. Also, the blockchain beta version of the first demo has been developed to enable recyclates digital traceability. The design of demo cases to demonstrate and validate our recyclates has been initiated in WP5.

In WP6, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) advanced the LCA for PET waste-to-fabric production at Centexbel (CTB). Additionally, WP7 focused on creating a comprehensive exploitation strategy, including business models, business plans, and a detailed intellectual property (IP) study.

Stay tuned for more updates as PRecycling continues to push the boundaries of sustainable plastic recycling!

Work Package 3: Sampling, verification & consistent quality control of recyclates & recycled content

WP3 focuses on recyclates, distinguishing it from WP2, which deals with waste streams. The primary objectives of WP3 include developing strategies for sampling recyclates and preparing samples to ensure valid and representative results. This work package aims to establish acceptance criteria for recyclates used in toys, textiles, and home appliances, alongside developing analytical methods that ensure quality control and product safety.

A round-robin test will be organised based on the previously set acceptance criteria, and methodologies for ageing studies of selected recyclates will be developed, tailored to the specific use cases of the materials. Another key goal is predicting the degradation and lifespan of new polymeric products based on experimental findings.

What has been done so far? Progress has been made in several areas. Recyclates produced in WP2 have been delivered for further characterisation within WP3. A tailored set of acceptance criteria was defined for each use case, considering safety considerations, manufacturer demands, and consumer requirements, with virgin materials selected as benchmarks.

At the Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies at Fraunhofer IVV, different plastic samples, including virgin, waste, and recyclates, were evaluated using human sensory analysis. Furthermore, instrumental analysis was conducted on selected samples to offer insights into the molecular odour composition. These investigations provided detailed information on the odour characteristics of individual samples and facilitated comparisons among various samples, such as assessing the impact of different processing steps on the materials and comparing recyclates with virgin materials. Additionally, sampling strategies were developed for each type of recyclate, including solvent-based and upcycled variants.

Methodologies for accelerated ageing studies and lifetime prediction were set up and applied to various virgin and recyclate use cases using customised analytical procedures. Those analyses are part also of Centexbel’s efforts on D3.3 Analytical verification protocol for each use case recycling input with aligned acceptance criteria. The object of this activity is recycling polyester curtain waste to promote a closed-loop recycling system for synthetic textiles to ensure that recycled polyester (rPET) can be used in new applications, with specific high standards for processability, performance, and safety. The recycled polyester must meet standards for IV, tensile strength, strain at break, and linear density, as well as comply with OEKO-TEX standards to ensure quality and safety for new textile applications. By adhering to these standards, the aim is to develop high-quality recycled polyester that meets the demands of new textile applications.

When can we expect the first results? The next steps involve investigating the entire set of recyclates within the use cases, taking into account the previously established acceptance criteria. Further human sensory and analytical investigations will be conducted to evaluate different recycling processes and enable direct comparisons of selected samples. Additionally, the project will focus on defining acceptance criteria for odour characteristics in selected applications. Efforts will continue to finalise accelerated ageing studies and advance the development of lifetime predictive models.

Public Deliverable 3.3 will be shared once the analysis of recyclates is complete, but initial results from sensory and analytical odour investigations have already been shared with the consortium. The latest findings are being reported and will be presented at the next project meeting in October 2024, with further results on odour investigations expected by the end of the year.

Results from the accelerated ageing tests and lifetime prediction models are anticipated to be available by Spring 2025.

Work Package 4: Recyclate track and trace methodology

WP4 aims to develop a substance material flow analysis and leverage digital traceability technologies and digital information management, by developing a complete digitalised recyclate management platform and a waste management decision support tool. Below is a brief overview of the work done so far on these topics.

What has been done so far? The material/substance flow analysis (SFA), one of the central methodologies of industrial ecology, was applied to identify waste sources from home appliances and toys that contain additives, tracing their paths to recycling processes. Additionally, a literature review was performed, which showed a significant gap in the understanding of compositions of for example additives within plastic materials, along with scattered data on plastic production, usage, and waste.

In the study, three scenarios were considered: houseware, leisure, and sports plastics; electrical and electronics plastics; and a general European plastics scenario. Despite limited data, the analysis modelled total plastic flows and specific polymers, roughly incorporating (4-5) additive classes. The work focuses on encouraging the plastics community to refine flow analyses by including actual material compositions, promoting safer and more sustainable plastic management.

A literature review on tracer materials and methods for tracking polymers in waste streams has been conducted. AIMEN has developed tailored setups for applying laser-based spectroscopic detection techniques, namely laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), to identify specific tracers in polymers. The study includes small organic molecules and inorganic nanoparticles that are detected by LIF and LIBS, respectively.

Two different approaches for adding tracers were studied: the application of tracers in the form of a thin surface coating and embedding the tracers within the polymer matrix. The results show that spectroscopy techniques such as LIF and LIBS are suitable methods for detecting tracers down to ppm level concentrations, as required by industry, and highlight the potential of tracer-assisted identification for enhancing the efficiency of plastic waste sorting and recycling.

What are the next steps and the expected results? Future steps involve a use case study of tracer-assisted recyclate identification and the potential of the approach for automated detection routines for in-line applications, with final results expected by the second quarter of 2025.

Moreover, to enhance traceability within the PRecycling value chains, new digital technologies for tracing and data management are in development. These advancements will ensure validated recyclate usage information and the required certifications, bolstering trust and optimising value chain logistics.

Circularise has tailored its platform to meet the plastic industry's needs, introducing new traceable material options and data correction capabilities, which benefit the entire supply chain, including external parties like auditors and laboratories. Additionally, the platform now offers varying disclosure levels to protect intellectual property while enabling data sharing. For example, a company can now share chemical composition-related data with laboratories and auditors, but not necessarily with end-users, as this might not be relevant for these last ones, protecting the company’s IP.

Finally, together, Circularise and European Plastics Converters (EuPC) are working to streamline recycled material certification and reporting, integrating Circularise's platform with the MORE platform, thus facilitating automatic data validation and communication for plastic converters using recycled material.

As a social commitment and contribution to the project, the Technological Institute for Children’s Products and Leasure (AIJU) has developed different workshops related to recycling within this task, with five activities each. These activities consisted of making the new generations understand through play the importance of recycling and how to do it properly increasing their social awareness about recycling.

The activities carried out in these workshops are designed to capture the attention of children considering their interests, tastes, and preferences. For this purpose, the AIJU children's lifestyles have been taken into account: Creative Heroes, Affectionate Dreamers, Experimental Makers, Green Explorers, Humurous Champs, Notable Achievers, and Remote Social Lovers. In addition, a documentary study on toys based on informal education content on recycling has been carried out, as well as an electronic interview study of recycling habits in families.

The workshops involved children between 5 and 10 years of age, who were divided into several groups, mainly learning to identify the different containers and the specific points to separate our waste and contribute to the care of the environment.

One of the points to emphasise at the end of the workshop was the process of recycling toys and the importance of recycling plastic objects to give them new uses and create new objects.

The objective of this task is to promote ecological awareness through playful learning, in addition to children discovering how sustainability can be integrated into daily life. The workshops of the PRecycling project seek to empower new generations to lead the transition towards a more sustainable and circular world.

PRecycling is actively engaged in clustering activities and joint events with its sister projects PRIMUS, ABSolEU, and INCREACE, all funded under the HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-10 call. These collaborations aim to harmonise methodologies, share knowledge and ensure the interconnection of approaches between EU initiatives, focusing on increasing the share of recycled plastics in high-value products. A key aspect of these efforts has been the organisation of webinars, presentations, and joint participation in crucial events such as the GreenTech Innovation Forum 2024, where efforts to advance the plastics recycling sector have been demonstrated.

These events highlighted collaborative efforts between projects and provided valuable platforms to discuss innovative solutions, engaging with industrial and social stakeholders to promote the use of recycled plastics in high-value products. Building on the success of these initiatives, PRecycling and its partners look forward to organising more events, workshops, and ‘living labs’ to further strengthen partnerships, promote innovation and drive the adoption of sustainable recycling practices across the industry. These coordinated efforts are paving the way for scaling technologies, advancing towards higher TRLs, and structuring a legislative landscape that supports the scalability, replicability, and safe use of recyclates.

More events are coming, stay tuned not to miss them!

PRecycling 1st Review Meeting in Gjøvik

On the 11th of October 2023, NTNU hosted the first PRecycling review meeting in Gjøvik, Norway. The project partners had the opportunity to meet and discuss the results of the different work packages, guided by the insightful contributions of Project Officer Kristina Bole and Review Officer Susana Filipe. Read more here.

Plastainability 2023 Conference 

On the 21st of November 2023, the NTUA team presented the PRecycling project during the Plastainability 2023 Conference at the National Centre for Scientific Research ‘DEMOKRITOS’ in Athens.  The presentation showcased the innovative steps taken to revolutionise sustainable practices in plastics management and remarked on the need for a collaborative effort between industries and national governments to pave the way for a sustainable future. Read more here.

 PRecycling 24-Month Progress Meeting in O Porriño

On the 22nd and 23rd of April 2024, AIMEN hosted in O Porriño, Spain, the PRecycling consortium for the 24-month progress meeting of the project. The meeting was an important opportunity to exchange and provide updates on the progress of the project and discuss future plans.

Read more here.

Stay tuned as we continue to unveil further progress and advancements in our mission to create a circular economy for plastics.

Do not hesitate to write us and explore together potential opportunities: charitidis@chemeng.ntua.gr