EU project combines 11 partners to develop circular elastomer materials

Valencia, Spain – An EU project to produce new thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) from plastic waste has been launched with the participation of 10 European partners and a UK-based associate partner.

The REPurpose project, to be coordinated at the 'bio base Europe pilot plant', kicked off in Ghent, Belgium last September, Spain-based polymer technology centre Aimplas announced 2 Jan.

The partners, it said, will investigate developing ‘safe and sustainable’ elastomers using new feedstock derived from biomass or enzymatically degraded polyolefins and PET or paper, and cardboard waste.

These building blocks will make the TPEs recyclable, ecologically friendly and with the capacity to be recycled for unlimited number of times, said Aimplas, which leads the work package on safety and sustainability by design.

The project further aims to produce “additive-free thermoplastic elastomer prototypes” for applications such as consumer goods, automotive applications, building & construction.

Aimplas' work package includes preparing an inventory of plastic additives, regulation and standardisation as well as developing a good practice guide.

The centre is also in charge of the synthesis of small-scale polymers that will be scaled up by another company, B4P.

Furthermore, Aimplas will oversee the chemical recycling of PET, recyclability and biodegradability tests and the realisation of demonstrators together with Aalborg University of Denmark.

In total, the €6.5 million project involves four universities and research centres, two non-profit organisations, and five SMEs.

The project also includes a ‘hop on’ facility programme enabling other entities to collaborate at later stages.