Polyester recovery from textile and plastic wastes via efficient glycolysis process

The PETcovery project aims to address the significant challenge of polyester recycling in circularity of textiles and plastic packaging. Polyester is the most widely used textile fibre, and also widely used material in packaging. It poses substantial environmental concerns due to its high greenhouse gas impact and the lack of viable large-scale recycling solutions in Europe. The project proposes a chemical recycling method via glycolysis, utilizing novel catalysts to enhance the economic viability and efficiency of the process. This approach enables the restoration of polymer and in case of textiles also fibre quality, facilitating closed-loop recycling and the replacement of primary polyester materials with secondary ones.
The technical approach involves use of the novel catalysts for the depolymerization of most common polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It enables achieving lower process temperatures and faster reactions with higher yields compared to traditional methods. The scope includes increasing the technology readiness level (TRL) of the process and also tackling the challenges related to polyester waste feedstock and conducting techno-economic and environmental evaluations. To support exploitation and commercialization, the results will be protected under intellectual property rights (IPR) whenever it is possible.
The project is structured into five work packages, focusing on feedstock examination (WP1), depolymerization (WP2), repolymerization (WP3), and process evaluation (WP4). The goal is to scale up the process, generate intellectual property, and create an exploitation plan (WP5). The project will be linked to the Valmet’s BeyondCircularity veturi.