Plastic Recyclates: SKZ and PLASTSHIP launch joint project

Despite millions of tonnes of post-consumer waste being collected annually, the utilization rate of post-consumer recyclate in Germany's total plastic production remains very low at 5.6 percent. To address this, SKZ and plastship GmbH are launching the SmaKuRez project. This initiative will provide plastic processors with a service system database, enabling them to increasingly and reliably replace virgin plastics with recyclates.

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Service system database to significantly simplify utilization for companies

October 20, 2021 - Annually, 6.15 million tonnes of plastic waste are collected in Germany, of which 5.2 million tonnes are post-consumer waste. However, the utilization rate of post-consumer recyclate in Germany's total plastic production is currently only 5.6 percent. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the plastic processing industry, in particular, are uncertain about which recyclates they can use as end-users.

The entire lifecycle of plastics is taken into account
To enhance user safety and promote widespread use of plastic recyclates, plastship GmbH, in collaboration with SKZ, is launching the SmaKuRez project. The initiative aims to develop a product-service system that considers the entire lifecycle of plastics, significantly simplifies the application of plastic recyclates, and defines recyclate qualities and application classes.

Within the project, quality and performance criteria for individual applications will be defined and recorded with partner companies. Subsequently, potential recyclates will be assessed for compliance with these requirements. This includes providing evidence or documentation, quality assurance, detailing the recycling process used, and the material input at the recycler's facility. Based on this, external confirmation will be generated that the chosen recyclate can be safely used in applications.

Replacing virgin plastics with recyclates
As a result, the SmaKuRez service system includes a database enabling plastic processors to substitute virgin plastics with recyclates. Companies currently using new materials for specific products and manufacturing processes will receive suitable recyclate blends, process parameters, and helpful analyses. This is intended to empower plastic processing companies to switch to blends with defined recyclate content without significant obstacles. The project also focuses on developing 'best practices', which are certified, pre-blended, and additive-enhanced recyclate mixes containing 30 to 100 percent recycelt content.

About the project:
The SmaKuRez project – Development of a smart plastic recyclate product-service system with certified 'best practices' to increase the share of genuinely recycled post-consumer plastic recyclates (FKZ 033R370) – is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and runs from September 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022.

The diagram schematically illustrates the intended functionality of the plastic recyclate product-service system 'SmaKuRez'. (Graphic: SKZ)

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Plastic Recyclates: SKZ and PLASTSHIP launch joint project

Service system database to significantly simplify utilization for companies

Andreas Bastian