TERMINUS

TERMINUS – in built Triggered Enzymes to Recycle Multi layers: an Innovation for Uses in plastic packaging

Term

January 1^st, 2019 – January 31^st, 2023

Project

TERMINUS addresses the challenge of recycling and reuse of flexible multi-layer and multi-compounds packaging materials used for food, beverages, cosmetics, pet food, fertilisers and any perishable goods in general. Due to their complex structures these materials are excellent in preserving the packaged goods, and in the case of food applications considerably extend the useful life of products and therefore help reduce food waste. It is this complex structure however that causes problems in their recycling. The mixture of often inseparable layers prevents effective re-processing and today majority of such packaging is either incinerated or ends up in landfills.

Through a range of smart enzyme-containing polymers with triggered intrinsic self-biodegradation properties, acting as adhesives or tie layers in the design and manufacturing of multi-layer plastics for food and non-food applications, TERMINUS aims to address this issue. The technology will be applied to biodegradable PUR-based adhesives for adhesive lamination and extrusion coating lamination, and polymers and tie layers (PBS, PLA, PPC or PCL) in blown extrusion.

The project is funded by the European Union under Horizon 2020. Call: H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2018. Grant Agreement: 814400

Coordinator

Sigma Clermont (France)

Partners

OWS nv (Belgium), Sigma Clermont (France), Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites (France), Alma Mater Studiorium Università di Bologna (Italy), Fachhochschul Nordweststchweiz (Switzerland), Plastics recyclers Europe (Belgium), Covestro Deutschland AG (Germany), STTP Emballage SAS (France), TETRA PACK Packaging Solutions AB, Benkei (France), Norner (Norway), Biopox SRL (Italy),  Valstybinis Moksliniu Tyrimu Institutas Fizinio ir Technologijos Mokslu Centras (Lithuania)

OWS’s tasks

Biodegradability testing and impact assessment studies (LCA, LCC).

Links

https://www.terminus-h2020.eu/