The European research project Polynspire was officially launched at the end of September; aimed at identifying new, more economical and environmentally sustainable processes for recycling polymers and plastics from municipal and industrial waste. It aims to process 100 percent of streams containing at least 80 percent plastics.
The project, funded with 10 million euros, will involve twenty-two partners over the next four years, coordinated by Circe.
Research areas of the project
The Polynspire project is part of the Horizon2020 research and innovation program, sponsored by the European Union. It aims to put in place a set of solutions, competitive in cost as much as in innovation quality and sustainability. Solutions aimed at improving energy efficiency and in the use of resources in the recycling of polymers from post-consumer waste and industrial scrap with a polymer content of 80 percent.
Polynspire involves three areas of research:
- chemical recycling using microwaves and magnetic catalysts in order to recover monomers and additives with economic value, such as glass and carbon fibers;
- Additives and high-energy irradiation to improve the quality of regenerated plastics;
- Valorization of plastic waste as a carbon source in the steel industry.
Recycling: common goal
For 2019, organizers have announced the expansion of project categories to eight:
- Technological product innovation in recycled plastic material,
- manufacturing system innovation,
- polymer packaging product,
- plastic recycling ambassador,
- recycled plastic products from the building and construction sectors,
- Household and leisure,
- automotive,
- electrical and electronic.
“The launch of the awards has shown that a substantial number of companies are confident in using recycled polymers in their products, which are of comparable quality to those made from virgin materials. With the second edition we intend to show that there are a myriad of applications where plastics are and can be used. It is important to publicize that secondary raw materials are not only used in niche applications but perfect in everyday products,” explains Ton Emans, PRE president.
