| Project Detail |
Recycling of multilayer plastic packaging materials
For the packaging sector, multilayer plastic structures offer many advantages, such as thermal stability to barrier properties that help preserve foodstuffs. They are also more efficient in transport due to the lower weight of the plastic. However, despite the benefits, they are an environmental concern. Multilayer packaging materials cannot be recycled using traditional plastic recycling technologies. In this context, the EU-funded MERLIN project will offer innovative solutions to increase the quality and rate of recycled plastic materials coming from multilayer packaging waste. These solutions include the use of optical sensors and artificial intelligence for sorting and solvent-based processes for delamination. The project is in line with the EU’s goal for all plastic packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030.
The high-performance requirements requested by the industry and consumers are responsible that currently 17% of total plastic packaging is multilayer material , meaning 3.03 Mt of plastics. Difficulties for recycling it are accentuated, being mostly landfilled or incinerated. MERLIN project has joined a partnership between sorting technology providers, recyclers, research centers, social innovation experts and end-users to design cradle to cradle solutions. This 36-month research project will offer innovative solutions for all the processes required to increase the quality and rate of recycled plastic materials coming from multi-layer packaging waste: (i) SORTING (combining optical sensors, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and robotics), (ii) DELAMINATION (optimizing depolymerisation and using solvent-based processes), (iii) RECYLING (techniques for repolymerization and upcycling of polymers) and (iv) VALIDATION (developing rigid and flexible packaging solutions and demonstrating circularity of the processes). These solutions will be developed and later validated in a real environment to reach technology readiness level (TRL) 6. This will be complemented with additional techniques and tools for circularity design to increase knowledge and effectiveness in the closure of the European multilayer plastic chain. Finally, transversal activities related to regulation and standardization, safety, sustainability, business, training, dissemination and communication will support to maximize the impact and effectiveness of the project. These actions are aligned with the ones proposed by the European Plastic Strategy to achieve that by 2030 all plastic packaging should be designed to be recyclable or reusable and decrease the quantity of waste generated
Potential annual carbon footprint saving that could be achieved recycling all the multilayer waste in Europe could reach 7.42 Mt CO2/year, with a potential economic of €10,605 million and more 106,000 new job positions. |
