In this challenging scenario, the REPurpose project, funded by the European Union, brings together 10 partners from seven countries of the European Union and one associate partner from UK to be a game-changer in tackling recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and creating new thermoplastic elastomer polymers. REPurpose aims at developing and validating the production of a platform of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design, additive-free thermoplastic elastomer prototypes for speciality applications (consumer goods, automotive applications, building & construction) from local post-consumer waste, with intrinsic biodegradability and recyclability properties, and to establish the circular value chain in an enabling environment.
AIMPLAS leads the WP2 on Safety and Sustainability by Design, which includes an inventory of plastic additives, regulation and standardization, a good practice guide, among other tasks. AIMPLAS is also in charge of the synthesis of small-scale polymers that will be scaled up by the company B4P, chemical recycling of PET, recyclability and biodegradability tests and the realization of demonstrators together with AAU.
New building blocks derived from biomass or enzymatically degraded polyolefins and PET or paper, and cardboard waste will be incorporated, giving the polymers unique characteristics of recyclability, ecology, and unlimited recycling, surpassing fossil carbon at each recycling stage. The polymers will be tested by relevant stakeholders and dedicated user groups, including global consumer goods producers.