Innovative recycling solutions for plastics and fibre-plastic composites

The increased use of recycled plastics is an important pillar in the implementation of a sustainable circular economy. However, companies face many challenges when processing such recyclates:

  • Problematic availability of specific recyclates (quantities, reliability, quality)
  • High prices of recycled materials vs. problematic processing properties and performance
  • Fluctuating material properties during processing and in the final product
  • Problematic ingredients (e.g. BPA and other additives)
  • Secure and standardised data on the recycled materials used
  • Increased wear on plant equipment during the processing of recycled materials

With our developments, we want to provide the market with cost-effective plastic recyclates with high mechanical properties, reduce wear on plant technology during processing and increase the number of possible recycling cycles.

Our network brings together the expertise of currently eight German companies and research institutions to jointly develop innovative solutions for recycling thermoplastics and fibre-plastic composites based on a combination of chemical and material technologies, including new analysis methods, extrusion technologies and process-integrated sensor technology.

Effects of the developments

  • Standardisation of polymer chains within individual fractions of plastics prone to crosslinking (e.g. PE/LDPE) or radiation/peroxide-crosslinked plastics (PA, PP)
  • Symbiosis of the advantages of material and chemical recycling
  • Increased process stability of recyclates during processing
  • Reduction of wear on plant technology when using recycled materials
  • Provision of cost-effective recyclates with an improved property profile close to that of new material
  • Increase in the number of possible recycling cycles
  • Resource-saving use of materials through increased use of recycled materials as a primary recycling strategy
  • Qualitative and quantitative optimisation through the active use of synergy effects and component documentation along the value chain