ReBioCycle proves a portfolio of bioplastic sorting and recycling technologies within 3 complementary waste-processor-centric HUB at DEMO scale and in the real operational environment the effective and efficient recycling of 3x types of bioplastics (PLA, PHA, Mater-Bi) to demonstrate higher impact of obtaining the same or superior grade recycled polymers and other higher value applications. - NL HUB chemical technology upscaling to TRL 6. Using TORWASH technology to recycle PLA & PHA polymers (500 kg each. KPI: at least 1 m3 solution of monomers from each of PLA/PHA free of solids. The NCTP Group waste sorting site of Heerenveen (Friesland, NL) and TEC, PBM, Corbion will be involved. - IT HUB chemical technology upscaling to TRL 7. NOVAMONT technology will be used to recycle 600 kg of mixed composites including Mater-Bi. Also PHA from the NL and ES Hub will be tested in the IT HUB to blend into further Mater-Bi bioplastic formulations. IREN Group waste sorting site of Borgaro Torinese (Piedmont, Italy) and NOVAMONT’s new dedicated bioplastics recycling section within its Terni (IT) plant will be involved. - ES HUB Enzymatic recycling technology brought to TRL 6 , producing 50 kg within reactors of 200 litre s (CSIC (supported by AIMPLAS pre-treatment). Microbial recycling technology (by the AD “short-circuited” technology of GPB and UCD via pure culture fermentation ) brought to TRL 7 resulting outcomes 100kg rPHA (PHBV & PHBHx) and 20 kg rPHBV. Mechanical Technology upscaling to TRL 7 with the KPI level to be achieved 250 kg bioplastic recycle (TCD, AIMPLAS involved). HUB activities in SAV waste sorting site of Manises (Valencia, Spain). ReBioCycle will verify the industrial grade specifications by biopolymer brand owners and via demonstration of real-world products: durable (ARAPAHA: PLA) and multi-use packaging (SULAPAC: PHA and Mater-Bi). The LCA analysis by ARCHA and tailored D&E plan by partners EUBP and MAGFI will facilitate KER uptake.

Plastics are the material of choice in packaging applications because of their low cost, high performance and ready processability. Such is their success that it is expected that by 2050 the production of plastic packaging will exceed 250 million metric tons. Considering most plastics that are employed in the packaging industry are used for less than a week, the lack of environmental degradability has led to a tremendous growth of disposed plastics. This growth, together with the fact that the vast majority of synthetic plastics are designed for performance and durability and not for degradability and recyclability, has brought tons of plastic accumulation in the oceans and landfills - ~56 million tons per year. The problem has been highlighted by the acclaimed prediction that by 2050, the ocean is expected to contain more plastics than fish (by weight). Although it was envisioned that biodegradable polymers based on ester linkages such as poly(lactide) (PLA) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) could be part of the solution because they are mainly derived from biorenewable sources (e.g. starch and cellulose) and can be enzymatically or hydrolytically degraded leading to an environmentally closed circular ecosystem, the low permeability in the case of PLLA and the poor mechanical properties in the case of PHB has limited their potential. NATURE-EID proposes an innovative research training program at the forefront of circular economy of biobased polyesters. In particular, the project will develop fundamental knowledge in the synthesis of new biobased polymeric materials where the polymers are not only design based on their performance but also on their recyclability.

The EU has started a progressive decarbonisation with the aim to become carbon neutral by 2050. Energy Intensive Industries (EII) are expected to play an important role in this transition as they represent 24% of the final energy consumption, but a clear long-term vision and strategy is required in order to remain competitive while contributing to the decarbonization targets of the EU. RE4Industry has been conceived under this framework with a twofold objective: to support EII in the identification and integration of renewable energy (RE) solutions together with the definition of Action Plans for decarbonisation, and to transform the EU industrial landscape into a large market niche for the uptake of RE while defining the appropriate framework conditions for short- and long-term scenarios. To this end, RE4Industry will set up and empower a comprehensive network of stakeholders and market actors who will identify feasible RE technologies and their market barriers and will interact with industry representatives to gather their needs, expectations, drivers and barriers towards the implementation of these technologies. Such an approach will be accomplished through a strong engagement strategy and the creation of RE4Industry Collaborative Network, who will receive from the project partners knowledge transfer material such as success cases, best practices, policy recommendations and technological roadmaps for promoting RE adoption. In parallel to the networking activities, RE4Industry will develop a baseline methodology for the design of Action Plans for decarbonisation in EIIs that will be developed and validated together with 3 representative industrial use cases from the steel, aluminium and chemical sectors. RE4Industry solid replication strategy will enable the roll out of this methodology in at least 8 additional use cases of different sectors within the project lifespan and the initiation of cross-border knowledge transfer activities to a total of 12 EU countries.