| Business | Period | Project coordinator | Funding scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESG, Sustainability, Resource-efficiency, and Circular Economy | June 2022 - May 2026 |
Fundacion Circe Centro De Investigacion De Recursos Y Consumos Energeticos (CIRCE) | Horizon Europe |
The adoption of plastic materials has profoundly changed every industry sector. However, the dependence on this resource has become increasingly a systemic issue against the implementation of sustainable practices, due to the complexity of its recycling process.
The PLASTICE project is focused on creating sustainable solutions to close the plastic production loop by converting post-consumer plastic residues into valuable resources. It explores three innovative methods:
- Microwave-assisted pyrolysis.
- Gasification and catalytic conversion of syngas.
- Enzymatic hydrolysis with fermentation.
These approaches aim to produce sustainable feedstock for new plastics and other high-value industrial products.
The project's key objectives are:
- Develop new recycling processes: create solutions for treating unsortable mixed plastic and textile waste, improving recycling efficiency.
- Produce high-value feedstock: transform waste into materials for producing new polymers, closing the plastic loop.
- Reduce carbon footprint: reduce the carbon footprint of chemical recycling processes by 61-82% compared to traditional methods.
- Encourage the global implementation: define a guideline for adopting these solutions worldwide, addressing technical, regulatory, and standardization barriers.
- Promote commercialization and dissemination: develop a business plan for successful commercialization and engage key stakeholders for broad adoption.
By achieving these objectives, the PLASTICE project aims to transform plastic recycling processes, reduce waste and promote a circular plastic economy.
The activities involved include:
- Characterize the plastic feedstock: conducting comprehensive chemical analyses to gain a deep understanding of the materials.
- Develop a thermodynamic model: simulating the gasification process to optimize performance based on different feedstock compositions.
- Create a pilot plant testing: conducting experiments to refine the gasification process of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF)plastic residues, converting them into syngas, then Dimethyl Ether (DME), and ultimately olefins for new plastic production.
Moreover, RINA will support the development of a pilot gasifier designed to convert plastic residues into syngas. Afterwards this gas can be processed to produce building blocks (Dimethyl Ether, DME) for olefin production that will be used as one of the project’s demonstrators.
Finally, we contribute also to the characterization and improvement of the demonstration sites by analyzing waste streams and addressing workplace safety issues. Furthermore, we have a fundamental role in enhancing the replication potential of the project, establishing guidelines for the implementation of PLASTICE solutions across other industrial sectors.
The PLASTICE Project is set to transform plastic recycling by offering a new innovative method. By converting plastic residues into high-value products, the project will contribute to a circular economy, reducing plastic pollution and opening new business opportunities in the recycling sector.
The results will support both environmental sustainability and economic growth in the plastic industry.
Project Consortium
1. Circe - Centro De Investigacion De Recursos Y Consumos Energeticos (Spain) 2. Urbaser Sa (Spain) 3. Azcatec Tecnologia E Ingenieria Sl (Spain); 4. Universiteit Van Amsterdam (Netherlands); 5. Compania Para La Gestion De Residuos Solidos En Asturias Sa (Spain); 6. Rina Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali Spa (Italy); 7. Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (Italy); 8. Polyurethan Recycling Technology Srl (Italy); 9. Chemical Empowering Srl (Italy); 10. Totalenergies One Tech Belgium (Belgium); 11. Albea Services (France); 12. Centre Scientifique & Technique Del'industrie Textile Belge (Belgium); 13.Transfercenter Fur Kunststofftechnik Gmbh (Austria); 14. De Kringwinkel Antwerpen (Belgium); 15. Austrocel Hallein Gmbh (Austria); 16. Korteks Mensucat Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Turkey); 17. Sun Tekstil Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Turkey); 18. Fundacion Ctic Centro Tecnologico Para El Desarrollo En Asturias De Las Tecnologias De La Informacion (Spain); 19. Institute Of Communication And Computer Systems (Greece); 20. Rina Consulting Spa (Italy); 21. B2b Consulting Group (Spain); 22. Polym Polymeris (France); 23. Fondazione Icons (Italy)
