REBIOCYCLE

A new European blueprint for circular bioplastics upcycling solutions

University College of Dublin, Total Energies Corbion Bv, Novamont Spa, Iren Spa, I. Blu Srl, Azienda Multiservizi Igiene, Sociedad Anonoma Agricultores de la Vega de Valencia, Torwash Bv, Purac Biochem Bv, Paques Biomaterials Bv, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, The Provost Fellows Foundation, Glasport Bio Limited, National University of Ireland Galway, AIMPLAS, Arapaha Bv, Sulapac Ltd, Archa Srl, European Bioplastics Ev, Magfi Ltd.

Objectives

ReBioCycle aims to demonstrate that bio based biodegradable plastics can be kept in the “loop for as long as possible” through innovative recycling technologies and that end of life bio based biodegradable plastics can be used as “secondary materials” in the circular (bio)economy.

Description

ReBioCycle aims to provide further evidence at demonstration scale that biodegradable plastics are fully recyclable and in fact often so up-cyclable. ReBioCycle market and societal uptake will be facilitated by an holistic replication blueprint for the ReBioCycle bioplastics recycling solution. The project seeks to target the top-3 biobased polymers in the market, all having the common feature of also being biodegradable/compostable. More specifically, Poly lactic acid (PLA), Bioplastics Composites, and in particular the leading Starch and PBAT composite, and Mater-Bi®.Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), an emerging family of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters, with the Japanese company KANEKA.
ReBioCycle aims to demonstrate new recycling processes to produce high quality recycled bioplastics and value-added co-products at recycling sites in Europe. This will be achieved through scaling and integration of a portfolio solutions of 4x technologies at 3x exemplary recycling HUBs across Europe and through maximising the value of the recycled bioplastics and reducing the carbon footprint of these bioplastics over their whole life cycle.