UPCYCLE - sUstainable PLastiC biorefinerY for reCyclable and biodegradabLE packaging

The project will establish circular biobased packaging value chain by fully exploiting the successful results earned from an ongoing H2020 project to scale-up the production of next generation biodegradable plastics, which will also be recyclable. We will focus on the best processes identified and capitalize on the lessons learned, by overcoming specific bottlenecks we identified by the LCA and TEA, to guarantee a sustainable and viable process. Production, recyclability, biodegradability, as well as mechanical and manufacturing properties of the new bioplastics will be tested at pilot scale. The main aim of the project is to: 1) scale up a plastic biorefinery process that integrates post-consumer plastic waste with bio-based building blocks, for more carbon neutral and biodegradable packaging, and 2) to overcome the technical and/or economic bottlenecks identified at prototype scale, to allow for a viable scale up to TRL7.