Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INCREACE (INCREACE - INCREASING RECYCLED CONTENT IN ADDED VALUE PRODUCTS FOR A RESILIENT AND DIGITIZED CIRCULAR ECONOMY)
Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2023-11-30
The European Strategy for Plastics, part of the CEAP, aims to increase recycled plastics in new products.
Current value-added products have minimal recycled content due to technical, material, and societal challenges. The INCREACE project addresses these challenges with interdisciplinary solutions across the plastics recycling value chain. Partners collaborate on data-driven sorting, combining recycling technologies and implementing blockchain for trust. In 5 business cases the project develops proven concepts, evaluates ecological and economic implications, and guides towards circular design. INCREACE assesses regulatory changes, offers input into standardization and policy making, to increase collection and recycling rates along with demand for recycled plastics.
INCREACE supports EU plastics recycling targets by demonstrating sorting and recycling technologies for challenging applications. It provides solutions for traceability, terminology, product design, and recycled content verification to foster the circular plastics transition.
Current value-added products have minimal recycled content due to technical, material, and societal challenges. The INCREACE project addresses these challenges with interdisciplinary solutions across the plastics recycling value chain. Partners collaborate on data-driven sorting, combining recycling technologies and implementing blockchain for trust. In 5 business cases the project develops proven concepts, evaluates ecological and economic implications, and guides towards circular design. INCREACE assesses regulatory changes, offers input into standardization and policy making, to increase collection and recycling rates along with demand for recycled plastics.
INCREACE supports EU plastics recycling targets by demonstrating sorting and recycling technologies for challenging applications. It provides solutions for traceability, terminology, product design, and recycled content verification to foster the circular plastics transition.
A new collection and sorting strategy for the BCs has been determined. An in-line procedure using RGB and NIR cameras and an off-line system using XRF and FTIR were developed to monitor metarial properties. A blockchain model for traceability from collection to application is ready for application.
Feedstock materials were allocated to each recycling technology. With Vorwerk, potential sources for BC2 were identified and characterized followed by assigning recycling technologies to esch BC. The Input materials are being tested with three recycling technologies.
Recycled plastic and WEEE-related terminology from 14 standards, EU legislative texts, and publications were mapped. Gaps in definitions were identified, an aligned terminology is under development. Recycling strategies for each business case were mapped for LCA, a data inventory revealed gaps in literature. A recyclability assessment tool is under development.
Five Business Cases (BCs) steer the project to increase recycled material uptake in specific products. Critical-to-quality (CTQs) requirements for each BC were elaborated, materials flow between WPs 1, 2, and 4 were mapped to facilitate identification of possible recycled materials, recycling technology, and success criteria according to CTQs.
A literature review and interviews explored the state-of-the-art of societal demand for recycled plastic products and end-of-use electronics collection. Knowledge gaps were identified for further research based on barriers and drivers for societal demand and design for divestment research.
A detailed overview of the regulatory landscape for plastics recycling in the EEE sector was created. Business case specific 'policy and standard maps’ were constructed and are being verified. Aspects for the techno-economic assessment were formulated.
A framework for recycling plastics from CE perspective was elaborated, the evaluation procedure to demonstrate how the recycling value chain can match BC quality requirements is being elaborated and tested.
Based on value chain and stakeholder analysis, and Circular Design Sprints, the value chain and value proposition for the BCs were mapped. Relevant barriers, enablers, and potential solutions were identified.
Feedstock materials were allocated to each recycling technology. With Vorwerk, potential sources for BC2 were identified and characterized followed by assigning recycling technologies to esch BC. The Input materials are being tested with three recycling technologies.
Recycled plastic and WEEE-related terminology from 14 standards, EU legislative texts, and publications were mapped. Gaps in definitions were identified, an aligned terminology is under development. Recycling strategies for each business case were mapped for LCA, a data inventory revealed gaps in literature. A recyclability assessment tool is under development.
Five Business Cases (BCs) steer the project to increase recycled material uptake in specific products. Critical-to-quality (CTQs) requirements for each BC were elaborated, materials flow between WPs 1, 2, and 4 were mapped to facilitate identification of possible recycled materials, recycling technology, and success criteria according to CTQs.
A literature review and interviews explored the state-of-the-art of societal demand for recycled plastic products and end-of-use electronics collection. Knowledge gaps were identified for further research based on barriers and drivers for societal demand and design for divestment research.
A detailed overview of the regulatory landscape for plastics recycling in the EEE sector was created. Business case specific 'policy and standard maps’ were constructed and are being verified. Aspects for the techno-economic assessment were formulated.
A framework for recycling plastics from CE perspective was elaborated, the evaluation procedure to demonstrate how the recycling value chain can match BC quality requirements is being elaborated and tested.
Based on value chain and stakeholder analysis, and Circular Design Sprints, the value chain and value proposition for the BCs were mapped. Relevant barriers, enablers, and potential solutions were identified.
A new strategy for separate WEEE collection and sorting enhances recycled material quality, effects on material properties need provement. Improved In-line process monitoring for plastic sorting and Off-line sampling system need industrial demonstration.
Optimal combinations of raw materials, technologies, and product specs support circularity. Traceability by blockchain needs standardized protocols and interoperability.
Consolidated terminologies for mechanical and chemical recycling.
LCA models and reference processes for latest recycling technologies and waste streams.
BC3 showed that recycled polyolefins consisting of polymer blends can improve the electrostatic discharge characteristics. Fast, reliable methods to assess critical characteristics and improved sorting for less variability are needed.
New consumer behavior insights on purchase and disposal of (W)EEE will leverage co-creation of demonstrators together with users.
Analyzing regulatory landscapes from a circular economy and value chain perspective is a new scientific approach that provides insights on requirements, incentives and governing instruments.
Starting from the market needs rather than the waste availability the CE perspective framework is a new approach to close loops effectivly.
Evaluation of plastics recycling quality visualizes waste-to-product relation.
Tailored exploitation strategies for market uptake taking into account barriers and enablers identified for potential needs. The CDSs create new circular value strategies.
Optimal combinations of raw materials, technologies, and product specs support circularity. Traceability by blockchain needs standardized protocols and interoperability.
Consolidated terminologies for mechanical and chemical recycling.
LCA models and reference processes for latest recycling technologies and waste streams.
BC3 showed that recycled polyolefins consisting of polymer blends can improve the electrostatic discharge characteristics. Fast, reliable methods to assess critical characteristics and improved sorting for less variability are needed.
New consumer behavior insights on purchase and disposal of (W)EEE will leverage co-creation of demonstrators together with users.
Analyzing regulatory landscapes from a circular economy and value chain perspective is a new scientific approach that provides insights on requirements, incentives and governing instruments.
Starting from the market needs rather than the waste availability the CE perspective framework is a new approach to close loops effectivly.
Evaluation of plastics recycling quality visualizes waste-to-product relation.
Tailored exploitation strategies for market uptake taking into account barriers and enablers identified for potential needs. The CDSs create new circular value strategies.