Europe is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 with the "Green Deal". An essential pillar of implementation will be the promotion of plastics recycling with the accelerated use of recycled plastics (Single-Use Plastics Directive, DIN Spec 91446). Functional lightweight construction with a high content of plastics plays a central role in reducing CO2 emissions as one of the main pillars and cross-sectional discipline in the mobility and energy sector. The sustainable use of recyclates in lightweight structures alone brings significant CO2 savings through the reduction of primary raw materials, which must be added to the further systemic savings through lightweight construction applications.
The project is initially aimed at the technology transfer of the solvent-based recycling technology already available for thermoplastic plastic films to the recycling of constructive lightweight structures in fiber composite construction. This requires adjustments to the core process of the solvent-based recycling process and the entire upstream and downstream technology of the recycling route. Furthermore, methods are to be developed with which the changes in the properties of the materials associated with recycling can be recorded and evaluated reliably and efficiently with regard to reuse in line with requirements. The consumption of resources in the entire process chain is balanced and evaluated. Furthermore, innovative approaches for modeling circular value chains are developed (including allocation approaches for the distribution of environmental impacts and credits along the actors) and these are integrated into the LCA to develop accurate data bases.