Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SYSCHEMIQ (Demonstrator of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy in the Trilateral Chemical Region with a focus on plastic waste streams Quality for Recycling)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-09-01 bis 2024-02-29
The SYSCHEMIQ project aims to revolutionize plastic recycling in the Trilateral Rhine-Meuse region (NL, BE, DE) by aligning regional stakeholders towards establishing a circular urban-industrial plastics district. This initiative integrates new chemical recycling (CR) technologies with traditional mechanical recycling to handle mixed or contaminated plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. By converting these plastics into valuable secondary raw materials, SYSCHEMIQ supports the production of high-quality chemicals and plastics, comparable to those derived from fossil resources.
Central to the project's success is the collaboration across the entire plastics value chain. This includes optimizing product designs for recyclability, enhancing waste collection and sorting protocols, and refining mechanical and chemical recycling processes. Such comprehensive alignment and optimization are vital for transforming plastic waste into a quality feedstock, suitable for both recycling approaches. At the heart of the SYSCHEMIQ initiative is the demonstration of these technologies and processes at Chemelot, a leading industrial park and chemical hub. The project leverages existing infrastructure and governance models, including the newly established Brightland Circular Hub, to pilot innovative recycling solutions.
Furthermore, the SYSCHEMIQ project engages cities and citizens within the Trilateral Rhine-Meuse region through innovative "nudging" strategies and educational campaigns, fostering active participation in plastic waste separation. This approach enhances the quality of recyclable materials and aligns with the broader goal of transitioning to a circular plastics economy.
By pushing the boundaries of current recycling technology and fostering a systemic approach to waste management, SYSCHEMIQ not only addresses environmental concerns but also sets the stage for future economic growth and job creation in the region. This aligns with broader European Green Deal objectives, aiming to establish a more sustainable and competitive circular economy.
Central to the project's success is the collaboration across the entire plastics value chain. This includes optimizing product designs for recyclability, enhancing waste collection and sorting protocols, and refining mechanical and chemical recycling processes. Such comprehensive alignment and optimization are vital for transforming plastic waste into a quality feedstock, suitable for both recycling approaches. At the heart of the SYSCHEMIQ initiative is the demonstration of these technologies and processes at Chemelot, a leading industrial park and chemical hub. The project leverages existing infrastructure and governance models, including the newly established Brightland Circular Hub, to pilot innovative recycling solutions.
Furthermore, the SYSCHEMIQ project engages cities and citizens within the Trilateral Rhine-Meuse region through innovative "nudging" strategies and educational campaigns, fostering active participation in plastic waste separation. This approach enhances the quality of recyclable materials and aligns with the broader goal of transitioning to a circular plastics economy.
By pushing the boundaries of current recycling technology and fostering a systemic approach to waste management, SYSCHEMIQ not only addresses environmental concerns but also sets the stage for future economic growth and job creation in the region. This aligns with broader European Green Deal objectives, aiming to establish a more sustainable and competitive circular economy.
Within the first period, a Dual Track Governance (DTG) methodology has been developed. It has provided frameworks for aligning industry, government, and societal efforts, ensuring effective collaboration for sustainable plastic recycling solutions. It involves diverse measures like recycling targets, packaging design boundaries, innovation support, and CO2 pricing on the societal level.
Significant steps have been taken in redesigning lid films. Additionally, work on upgrading PCR quality has shown promising preliminary results. Furthermore, considerable strides have been made in providing insights in Mixed Plastic Waste (MPW) availability in the trilateral region, encompassing the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Flanders. Moreover, the project has mapped and evaluated various pyrolysis and decontamination technologies for MPW in a comprehensive landscape study.
Also, within first 18 months the team has made a significant progress towards evaluating the societal and business performance of plastic waste recycling in the ARRRA region. It has integrated the PRISM (Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System) models, tested policy scenarios, and developed a GIS tool for spatial analysis.
Substantial progress in engaging communities in plastic recycling has also been made. The team identified key behavioral factors influencing recycling habits through extensive interviews and case studies. They developed and implemented an awareness program targeting environmentally conscious consumers, incorporating educational initiatives in schools and community workshops. Collaborative efforts resulted in co-creation competitions with artists and student designers to develop appealing recycled plastic products, fostering community involvement and creativity.
The project has also set the stage for replication. We have mapped stakeholders and identified key chemical regions across Europe for potential twinning in plastic recycling and circular economy efforts. This led to mapping potential twinning areas in Europe and securing Letters of Interest from regions such as Mazovia, West Pomerania, Central Portugal, and Emilia Romagna.
Significant steps have been taken in redesigning lid films. Additionally, work on upgrading PCR quality has shown promising preliminary results. Furthermore, considerable strides have been made in providing insights in Mixed Plastic Waste (MPW) availability in the trilateral region, encompassing the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Flanders. Moreover, the project has mapped and evaluated various pyrolysis and decontamination technologies for MPW in a comprehensive landscape study.
Also, within first 18 months the team has made a significant progress towards evaluating the societal and business performance of plastic waste recycling in the ARRRA region. It has integrated the PRISM (Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System) models, tested policy scenarios, and developed a GIS tool for spatial analysis.
Substantial progress in engaging communities in plastic recycling has also been made. The team identified key behavioral factors influencing recycling habits through extensive interviews and case studies. They developed and implemented an awareness program targeting environmentally conscious consumers, incorporating educational initiatives in schools and community workshops. Collaborative efforts resulted in co-creation competitions with artists and student designers to develop appealing recycled plastic products, fostering community involvement and creativity.
The project has also set the stage for replication. We have mapped stakeholders and identified key chemical regions across Europe for potential twinning in plastic recycling and circular economy efforts. This led to mapping potential twinning areas in Europe and securing Letters of Interest from regions such as Mazovia, West Pomerania, Central Portugal, and Emilia Romagna.
The highlights, results beyond the state of the art, are:
• The dual-track governance model introduces a novel approach to managing collaborations. It involves diverse measures like recycling targets, packaging design boundaries, innovation support, and CO2 pricing on the societal level, and investment decisions, innovation projects, and personnel training on the operational level. By enhancing coordination between industry, government, and societal actors, this model addresses complex interactions and ensures effective cooperation for sustainable plastic recycling solutions.
• The updated Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model (PRISM) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System) provide precise scenario analysis and long-term planning for cost-effective recycling strategies, facilitating data-driven decision-making in recycling operations.
• Emphasizing the improvement of recycled material quality as part of the project ensures that end products are comparable to those made from virgin plastics, promoting broader acceptance and utilization of recycled materials. We have developed mono-material polypropylene (PP) lidding films to replace aluminum laminates, significantly enhancing recyclability without compromising barrier and sealing properties..
• The team successfully mapped the availability and composition of plastic waste streams in the tri-lateral area, providing detailed data to guide further recycling efforts.
• An extensive mapping and evaluated various pyrolysis and decontamination technologies for MPW in a comprehensive landscape study, provides better benchmark knowledge on the state-of-the art of pyrolysis and pretreatment technologies, in relation to their potential to enhance Chemical Recycling of plastic waste treams.
• Also, within first 18 months the team has developed scenarios for plastic waste generation, conducting a quick scan of economic and environmental performance via PRISM (Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System).
• Through extensive interviews and case-studies the team identified insights in key behavioral factors influencing recycling habits of citizens. It provides improved understanding how values, attitudes, and situational contexts, such as community involvement and educational interventions, determine how citizens can be nudged to enhance their engagement in the circular economy.
• The dual-track governance model introduces a novel approach to managing collaborations. It involves diverse measures like recycling targets, packaging design boundaries, innovation support, and CO2 pricing on the societal level, and investment decisions, innovation projects, and personnel training on the operational level. By enhancing coordination between industry, government, and societal actors, this model addresses complex interactions and ensures effective cooperation for sustainable plastic recycling solutions.
• The updated Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model (PRISM) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System) provide precise scenario analysis and long-term planning for cost-effective recycling strategies, facilitating data-driven decision-making in recycling operations.
• Emphasizing the improvement of recycled material quality as part of the project ensures that end products are comparable to those made from virgin plastics, promoting broader acceptance and utilization of recycled materials. We have developed mono-material polypropylene (PP) lidding films to replace aluminum laminates, significantly enhancing recyclability without compromising barrier and sealing properties..
• The team successfully mapped the availability and composition of plastic waste streams in the tri-lateral area, providing detailed data to guide further recycling efforts.
• An extensive mapping and evaluated various pyrolysis and decontamination technologies for MPW in a comprehensive landscape study, provides better benchmark knowledge on the state-of-the art of pyrolysis and pretreatment technologies, in relation to their potential to enhance Chemical Recycling of plastic waste treams.
• Also, within first 18 months the team has developed scenarios for plastic waste generation, conducting a quick scan of economic and environmental performance via PRISM (Plastic Recycling Impact Scenario Model) and CIMS (Chemical production Integrated Model System).
• Through extensive interviews and case-studies the team identified insights in key behavioral factors influencing recycling habits of citizens. It provides improved understanding how values, attitudes, and situational contexts, such as community involvement and educational interventions, determine how citizens can be nudged to enhance their engagement in the circular economy.