Our progress so far

WP1 – DATA DRIVEN SORTING, ANALYSIS AND TRACEABILITY

With the change of perception from end-of-life products as waste towards those items being a source of secondary raw materials, we identified products streams which seemed most promising to yield high quality recyclates. We successfully allocated different secondary raw material sources to our 5 Business Cases. We identified the following product categories as suitable sources for the INCREACE business cases which aim to replace virgin PP with recyclates: toys, large household appliances, small kitchen appliances, washing mashines, dryers and dishwashers. Similarly, we recycle copiers, modems, e-meters and LCD TVs separately in order to achieve high quality yields of PC/ABS recyclates.

WP2 – ADVANCED RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES

By processing these clusters of products separately, we intervene early on within the recycling system, thereby avoiding complete mixing of highly diverse plastic fractions. Once shredded, sorted & characterized, we are now investigating innovative sorting steps, solvent-based recycling and chemical recycling to find the best combination of these 3 technologies. We already successfully recycled ABS, PC & PC/ABS via solvent-based recycling and produced pyrolysis oil from the mentioned fractions. Simultaneously, we mapped out the chain of custody to allow for traceability using digital twin tokens.

WP3 – CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

But when it comes to the definition of recycling, recycled content as well as quality of recyclate, legal texts, standards and perceptions within the value chain vary widely. Therefore, we assessed existing definitions and came up with a proposed re-definition of recycled plastics.

Beyond demonstrating technical feasibility of increasing the recyclate share in our 5 Business Cases, we are assessing the carbon footprint and economic implication associated with the different recycling strategies. We are now filling the identified literature gaps with primary data yielded within the INCREACE. Thereby, future-decision making based on sustainability considerations on social, economic & environmental level will be finally possible. However, the recyclability of products is already defined at the design stage. Therefore, we have developed a recyclability assessment tool, which helps product developers to optimize their designs. We are still testing and improving the tool to make it most useful for product developers.

WP4 – BUSINESS CASES

The INCREACE Business Cases are already busy producing parts from commercially available recyclates to prepare for the INCREACE recyclates sourced from WEEE via mechanical, solvent-based and chemical recycling. Centre of attention are critical-to-quality requirements as well as legal compliance related to medical and food safety, flammability, electrostatic discharge and chemical resistance. Therefore, we are performing characterization of materials and various other tests to successfully produce high quality recyclates.

WP5 – CIRCULAR SOCIETY: EMPOWERING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN A CIRCULAR PLASTIC TRANSITION

By engaging consumers and tackling the divestment stage, we aim to design effective collection solutions and stimulate consumer acceptance of recyclates. With a series of design projects we put theory into practice and develop concrete demonstrators for collection systems. Based on our findings on the barriers and drivers of consumer acceptance, we develop design guidelines in co-creation with consumers.

WP6 – MARKET AND REGULATORY ASPECTS

In the past months we identified the key regulatory drivers and barriers to increase uptake of recycled plastics based on expert interviews, a stakeholder workshop and available policy documents and databases. We found that product manufacturers are the most heavily regulated value chain actors, while consumers are barely addressed. Generally, legally binding instruments dominate the policy landscape, while there is an absence of economic incentives and supply-/demand-push instruments. We presented our findings at 3 international conferences.

WP7 – CE SYSTEM PERSPECTIVE

When designing solutions and interventions, the systemic response cannot go unnoticed. Therefore, we analyse reconfiguration scenarios of the value chain in a circular economy. This includes exploring associated changes in actor responsibilities, required resources and capabilities to allow for a successful transition. We further investigate the potential of secondary resources from WEEE in an improved value chain scenario.

WP8 – DISSEMINATION, COMMUNICATION AND EXPLOITATION

The interlinkages within the plastic recycling system can be overwhelming and complex. Therefore, we are currently developing a system dynamics map which brings into perspective the causalities between different actors and leverage points within the system.

Finally, we are busy developing exploitation strategies for several project results to make use of them as effectively as possible.

DELIVERABLES AND PAPERS

Deliverables

INCREACE – INCREASING RECYCLED CONTENT IN ADDED VALUE PRODUCTS FOR A RESILIENT AND DIGITIZED CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Our dissemination activities

1. 1. At the Plate conference in Espoo, Finland Flora Poppelaar presented her paper about ‘Designing valuable GOODbyes’ (page 795): content (aalto.fi)
   2. Terminology paper by prof. Kim Ragaert: Clarifying European terminology in plastics recycling – ScienceDirect
   3. Paper on sorting: Evaluating the effectiveness of density-based sorting of plastics from WEEE and ELVs – ScienceDirect
   4. We presented at the 39th International Conference of Polymer Processing Society
   5. We presented at the CHEMREC conference this years
   6. We presented at the Electronics Goes Green Conference
   7. We presented at Innovation Forum for Plastics in Brussels
   8. We presented at the E-waste World in Frankfurt