Facts

Academic Partner: School of Engeneering (JTH)

Industrial Partners:

Emballator, KB Components, Thule Group, K.D. Feddersen

Duration of the project: 2023-2026

Team of researchers:

Peter Leisner, Professor

Muhammad Irfan Qadeer, Assistant Professor

AVANCERADE OCH OPTIMERADE KOMPONENTER, MATERIAL OCH TILLVERKNING

Low Carbon Footprint Polypropylene (PP) for a Sustainable Development and Circular Economy (LCF-PP).

Odor in post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PCR-PP) is one of the main challenges that hinder their use in confined places and personal hygiene products due to the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are also harmful to human health.

The project aims to achieve the following goals:

1.To achieve a plastic-based circular economy.

2.To reduce the impact of single-use plastics on the environment.

3.To decrease the odor, contamination, and carbon footprint in PCR-PP and make it suitable for upstream products.

Importance of the project

  • Today, unrecycled plastics are considered the No. 1 threat to the environment.
  • Over 300 million tons of plastics are produced every year.
  • Over 8 million tons end up in the ocean.
  • By 2050 the mass of plastics in the oceans will exceed the mass of fish.
  • Contamination and odor in plastics hinder their use in upstream products.
  • One ton of recycled plastics saves 6000 kWh of energy, 16 barrels of oil, 98 million BTUs of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

Expected results

  • In line with the EU’s ambitious plan to achieve a 55% recycling rate by the end of 2030.
  • To develop contamination and odor-free recycled plastic suitable for the packaging industry that requires at least 30% PCR.
  • To develop odor-free PCR products suitable for the car’s interior and exterior.
  • To develop upstream products that are suitable for offices and homes.
  • To reduce the reliability of imported plastic resin.
  • To develop LCF products.

Financiers

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