End of Waste - From plastic waste to raw material
Plastic production from fossil sources leads to high carbon dioxide emissions, and increased use of recycled plastic reduces the need for new production. By recycling plastic that would otherwise go to landfill or energy recovery, the project contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Today, only 10% of all plastic is recycled. A significant obstacle is the lack of products that effectively utilize recycled plastic, despite the availability of raw materials in large quantities. In the textile industry, recycled polyester typically contains only 10-15% recycled material and is mainly produced through chemical processes.
The purpose of this feasibility study is to develop a formula using a thermo-mechanical recycling process with chain extenders and plastic waste that is not currently recycled, aiming to improve the quality of spin-ready recycled material. The goal is to create a textile material that can be used in various applications.
The questions explored in the project are:
- Will BASF’s chain extender improve the quality of degraded PET to make it spin-ready?
– What proportion of degraded material is feasible? - Will BASF’s chain extender improve the quality of degraded mixed polymer waste to make it spin-ready?
– What proportion of degraded material is feasible?
The project aims to promote sustainable development and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders across the entire value chain—from local collection of plastic waste, partnerships with an international chemical company and national research institutes, to a Gothenburg-based SME as the final producer of textiles. Through this approach, the project’s innovation capacity can be enhanced, and a commercial solution developed to address a global problem.
Goals
- Develop a formula combining plastic waste and chain extenders that can be commercialized for textile materials.
- Achieve a high proportion of recycled raw material that can be used in various applications.
- As a demonstrator, the project intends to produce a textile product, such as a knitted hat.
Participating Partners
Chalmers Industriteknik, BASF, Reparell, RISE and Sotenäs kommun
Time period
2025-01-06 – 2025-05-30
Total budget
880 368 SEK
From left: Abhijit Venkatesh, RISE, Max Anderhell, RISE, Maria Maukonen, RISE, Ezgi Noyan, RISE, Maria Pettersson, Chalmers Industriteknik, Emil Pettersen, Reparell, Klas Briland, BASF, Kent Rundgren, Chalmers Industriteknik, Thomas Sörensson, Klimatledande Processindustri. On laptop: Magnus Andersson, Klimatledande Processindustri, Thomas Eriksson, Sotenäs marina återvinningscentral
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