Reuse of polyester
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The challenge
Polyester is a much-used plastic. It can be found in clothing and soft drink bottles, among others. Over 91% of the polyester we use worldwide cannot be recycled, yet. This has to change. We want to recycle more polyester, so that fewer plastic ends up on the waste pile and in the oceans.
This is what we do
CuRe Technology started a pilot for recycling polyester waste. NHL Stenden functions as their research partner in further developing this technology. The main principle: to chemically break down polyester and turn it into building blocks (monomers). After purification, you build these up into pure polyester granulate.
“With the help of chemistry, you break polyester down into building blocks, or monomers. After purification, you build these up again into pure polyester granulate. See it as a way to heal polyester. This healing function alone already results in recycled polyester that can be reused in PET bottles”
Vincent Voet | Sustainable Plastics Lector NHL Stenden
Where we stand now
CuRe Technology is one of the few parties in the world who is working on the chemical recycling of polyester. The company aims to scale-up its current pilot plant to a capacity of 25 kiloton of polyester per year. This demands much new knowledge, and Greenwise Campus facilitates this knowledge infrastructure.
“After you have succeeded in recycling polyester, you're not done, yet. NHL Stenden also trains the engineers, process technicians and operators of the future. We not only look at the materials but also at the industrial processes and installations. By involving students, we are connecting chemistry and process technology.”
Wilbert van Eijnde | Associate Lector NHL Stenden
This is the team
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