Fig. 2: Recycling process \u2013 From ski boots to iPhone case<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs part of a defined set of experiments, different screw configurations, degassing options, activation concepts, and the application of an entertainer for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC; source of odour development) were tested. As a result, material and process optimisation concepts were developed to meet the requirements of VDA270.<\/p>\n
In addition to this project, Tide Ocean SA and IWK developed an innovative upcycling process and quality standards for collecting, sorting, compounding, and injection moulding that allows the production of high-quality products from ocean-bound rPET. The granules can replace virgin plastics without loss of quality in a variety of production processes, including 3D printing, textile fabrication, and injection moulding.<\/p>\n
An example of successful co-operation is a watch from Maurice Lacroix, in which the bezel, housing, crown, end, and closure parts are made from recycled ocean-bound rPET material.<\/p>\n
Organic recycling \u2013 What is the impact of bioplastics?<\/h3>\n The use of bioplastics to replace conventional fossil-based materials is by now state-of-the-art in the plastics industry. However, bioplastics are also associated with various controversies, including competition with food and unclear disposal\/recycling routes. The FluidSolids AG is tackling this by offering materials based on secondary resources that are 100% home-compostable. Together with the IWK, the compounding process was optimised, and scale-up was achieved. Disposable cutlery made of FluidSolids material can be found in Swiss supermarkets today.<\/p>\n
Paper recycling \u2013 Paper as a replacement for plastics?<\/h3>\n Especially in the field of packaging, regulations and consumers are pushing for a reduction in the use of plastics and a change to alternative materials. In that context, paper and paper-based materials are gaining increasing importance and potential for the polymer industry. However, replacing plastics with paper is not trivial since the material and processing properties are completely different.<\/p>\n
Founded by the \u2018Neue Regionalpolitik\u2019 (NRP) of the canton Fribourg, the IWK, together with the iRAP (Haute \u00e9cole d\u2019ing\u00e9nierie et d\u2019architecture Fribourg) and 11 companies investigated the feasibility of the potential of paper in plastic processes. Existing paper-based materials were analysed, and their processability was tested successfully (injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming).<\/p>\n
Challenges and needed adaptions regarding tools, material composition, and process parameters were identified and translated into the next steps, which are currently being worked on in follow-up projects. The project showed that while paper-based materials will certainly not replace plastics in all (packaging) applications, they are a useful addition to the existing material and property portfolio.<\/p>\n
Chemical recycling \u2013 the future?<\/h3>\n Chemical recycling is one of the big hopes for a circular plastics industry since it offers the possibility of recycling mixed plastic waste and getting recycled materials with virgin properties, something that is (currently) not possible with mechanical recycling.<\/p>\n
There is a variety of chemical recycling processes available, but none of them are on a commercial scale yet. This makes a final comparison between chemical and mechanical recycling regarding their environmental impact nearly impossible. However, it must be expected that chemical recycling will most likely have a higher energy demand and should, therefore, only be installed as a complementary recycling route to mechanical recycling, for example, in textile recycling, where mechanical recycling is difficult due to the often-high cotton content.<\/p>\nFig. 3: Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tide Blue Black (Source: Maurice Lacroix; #tide)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSummarising: the plastics industry has several possible pathways toward circularity. No \u2018circle\u2019 should be favoured above another one without considering the boundary conditions of the individual application. All the more, the synergies between the existing as well as emerging recycling technologies can act as a positive driver for sustainability.<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the 18th edition of our\u00a0quarterly publication<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"To achieve a circular plastics industry, no \u2018one-size-fits-all\u2019 solution will do, but a combination of different approaches will be required.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":47801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433],"tags":[610,529,24641,24543,24129,24575],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Synergy of recycling technologies for a circular plastics industry<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n