Project

Goal

CIRCOPLAST is an INTERREG FWVL project that aims to develop an innovative and sustainable process for removing brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from plastic waste. This will enable the recycling and reuse of plastics that are currently difficult to process.  

Key objectives

Innovate Green Extraction Technologies

• Develop eco-friendly methods to remove brominated flame retardants (BFRs) using advanced techniques like UV-Vis radiation and supercritical fluids (scCO₂) with co-solvents.

Scale Up for Industrial Application

• Transform the batch process from the VALBREE project into a high-efficiency continuous extrusion process.
• Utilize a twin-screw extruder equipped with UV lamps, scCO₂ extraction zones, and co-solvents for superior decontamination.

Expand Recycling to Complex Polymers

• Pioneer biological and enzymatic recycling techniques for polyurethane materials containing banned flame retardants. Identify and repurpose degradation products into new, valuable materials.

Develop Next-Generation Sustainable Polymers

• Create cutting-edge plastics by integrating recycled materials and bio-based lignin, leading to sustainable flame retardants and eco-friendly polymer formulations.

Advance the Circular Economy in Plastics

• Equip plastic recyclers and manufacturers with cost-effective, sustainable recycling solutions.
• Foster international collaboration to seamlessly integrate high-quality recyclates into new products, accelerating the shift toward a circular plastics economy.

Re-Assign

REcycling plAStics deSIGN

A cross-border approach towards a circular economy

As part of the European Green Deal for a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050, the transition to a circular economy for plastics is crucial for many companies. At the European level, the use of recycled plastics in finished products is becoming increasingly important, due to the “Circular Plastics Alliance” initiative, the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the plastics tax. The regions of the cross-border territory have also adopted measures in favour of a recycled content obligation. These provisions will affect SMEs and companies in various sectors, including transport, packaging, construction, and electrical and electronic equipment.

The RE-ASSIGN (REcycling plAStics deSIGN) cross-border project aims to help companies in their transition to a circular economy through the development of plastic products incorporating recycled materials (Design from recycling) from post-consumer or pre-consumer streams.

The RE-ASSIGN project focuses on two axes:

1. The development of sampling methodologies and pre-treatment technologies, allowing the characterization of incoming flows as completely as possible, quickly and at low cost
2. The optimization of recycling processes and formulation of plastics incorporating the maximum amount of recycled material to achieve the targeted specifications.

Elast2sustain

Sustainable thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) from bio-based or recycled material

Elast2Sustain focuses on developing new sustainable TPE through different routes. They will investigate whether mechanical or chemical recycling can be used to obtain building blocks that can be reused as raw materials. Two different chemical recycling techniques (pyrolysis and chemical depolymerisation) will be investigated. They will also develop new bio-based TPE using CO2 as a building block.