REPURPOSE (Repurposing post-consumer waste into recyclable rubbery plastic)

REPurpose integra el concepto SSbD para crear los primeros materiales gomosos infinitamente reciclables y libres de aditivos del mundo, basados en residuos plásticos locales postconsumo e integrados con biocarbono para optimizar las propiedades de un amplio espectro de aplicaciones, superando nuevos estándares de coste-función-ecología. El avanzado diseño de la columna vertebral del polímero confiere a los polímeros REP características únicas de biodegradabilidad y reciclabilidad infinita mediante reciclaje enzimático.

In the REPurpose project, local post-consumer waste is upcycled into new functional Recyclable Elastomeric Polymers (REP) destined for the high-value market of thermoplastic elastomers that today face recycling problems. New building blocks derived from biomass or enzymatically degraded organic or plastic waste will be incorporated, giving REP polymers unique characteristics:
- tunable elastomeric properties avoiding the need for additives
- production, processing and recycling on existing equipment
- controllable degradation in different habitats
- unprecedented indefinite recycling, surpassing fossil carbon at each recycling stage

New building blocks derived from biomass or enzymatically degraded plastic waste or paper and cardboard waste will be incorporated, giving the polymers unique characteristics of recyclability, ecology, and unlimited recycling, surpassing fossil carbon at each recycling stage. The polymers will be tested by relevant stakeholders and dedicated user groups, including global consumer goods producers.

Targeted biochemical conversion of local post-consumer waste streams as resilient, sustainable, and secure raw materials to form building blocks for the synthesis of innovative plastics.
Polymerisation of building blocks into REP polymers with adjustable functional properties for hard-to-recycle thermoplastic elastomeric applications without the need for toxic and polluting additives.
REP products are reusable or repairable via controlled disassembly through Design for Deconstruction. By building in specific breakpoints into the polymer backbone. REP polymers are endlessly recyclable and controlled biodegradable.
A cross-sectoral value chain approach connects waste handlers, recyclers and detection experts, regulatory framework advocates, plastic producers, technology developers and end-users of consumer goods.