TERMINUS addresses the challenge of unlocking recycling and reuse of flexible multi-layer and multi-compounds packaging materials used for food, beverages, cosmetics, pet food, fertilizers, any perishable goods in general. Known for its invaluable properties, multi-layer packaging is widely used in many packaging applications. However, these materials are non-recyclable given the conventional recycling methods, and therefore largely incinerated or landfilled.
A range of smart enzyme-containing polymers with triggered intrinsic self-biodegradation properties will be developed, acting as adhesives or tie layers in the design and manufacturing of multi-layer plastics for food and non-food applications. The technology will be applied to biodegradable PUR-based adhesives for adhesive lamination and extrusion coating lamination, and polymers and tie layers (PBS, PLA, PPC or PCL) in blown extrusion. Controlled biodegradation of these adhesives and tie layers would enable the separation of the different layers (e.g. PET, HDPE, LDPE, or Aluminum) of the packaging, which can then be recycled using conventional recycling methods.
TERMINUS will base its innovative and challenging objectives on a cross-disciplinary team of renowned organizations with expertise in enzymatic biodegradation of polymers, thermal protection of enzymes using nm organosilica and layered double hydroxide, cyclodextrins, UV and water triggered enzymatic activity, formulation of advanced polymers, manufacturing of multilayer plastic packaging, plastics recycling.
Two classes of enzymes have been selected (hydrolases and oxydases). Three processing tachniques for producing Terminus mulltilayers films have been involved (lamination, Blown coextrusion and lamination coating). After having solved the major identified bottlenecks, Terminus multilayers films have been produced at lab scale (g), at pilot scale (1kg) and finally at industrial scale (tenth of kgs). For on-demand separation/delamination, three demonstrators have been built up allowing themselves three different capabilities (g kg 10th kg) of Terminus multilayers films delamination. Delaminated films have been recycled according to the Recyclass protocol and the properties of Terminus recyclates have been assessed.
