CIRCE organizes a business meeting to explore innovative recycling processes in Zaragoza

CIRCE will host an international event on March 19th as part of the project to extend collaborations with the Aragonese business community.

A photograph of a seahorse clinging to a plastic cotton swab in the middle of the ocean went viral a few years ago, becoming a stark reminder of an increasingly dire problem. In our 'throwaway' culture, plastic remains the material of choice.

Now, innovative initiatives like the PolynSPIRE project, led by CIRCE and comprising 21 international partners (four technology centers, one university, nine large companies, five SMEs, and two associations), aim to revolutionize the plastic value chain through a set of innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective recycling and recovery solutions.

Although the volume of recycled material in Europe has increased in recent years, production is growing even faster. Economic, technological, and logistical barriers still exist that hinder the deployment of a circular economy for plastics, which PolynSPIRE seeks to overcome.

Microwave chemical recycling and mechanical recycling improvement

The project's goal is to improve the resource and energy efficiency required for recycling plastic waste from consumer and industrial sources, with the aim of processing more than 4.5 million tons over the next 20 years, thereby reducing up to 45 million tons of CO2.

PolynSPIRE focuses on chemical recycling using microwaves and smart magnetic materials and aims to enhance mechanical recycling through the use of vitrimers, compatibilizer additives, and high-energy radiation. In addition to recycling techniques, PolynSPIRE seeks to valorize low-quality plastic waste by using it as a carbon source and foaming agent in the steel sector.

Leveraging synergies with the business community
To extend collaboration on the project and leverage synergies, CIRCE will bring together various actors from the regional business community in Zaragoza on March 19th. The purpose is to share experiences and discover new opportunities to implement innovative, profitable, and viable recycling processes.