Paving the way for an ABS recycling revOLution in the EU

ABSolEU aims to pave the way to circularity for the ubiquitous plastic ABS, found in durable products from toys and other consumer goods to automotive components.

Despite the potential of this material, at least 85% of end-of-life ABS ends up in landfills or incineration due to the presence of additives and fillers that hamper its proper recycling.

ABSolEU will develop and mature to TRL 6 a technology for the physical recycling of waste ABS, providing a clean and safe recyclate that is free of additives and contaminants and ready to be reintroduced into the value chain for value added, high performance products.

In parallel, ABSolEU will develop new analytical methods for safety and quality assurance; these will allow project partners to establish a thorough understanding of the composition of ABS waste streams, including the presence of additives and the degree of degradation, as well as monitor these throughout recycling and compounding processes.

In addition, ABSolEU aims to provide the scaffolding to support adoption of physical recycling for ABS and support the uptake of ABS recyclates by industry and consumers.

This is achieved through circular value chain labs and explorative citizen labs, investigation of new traceability systems for ABS materials and products, and standardisation of processes for recycling, analysis and traceability.

ABSolEU?s research outputs are communicated, disseminated and synthesised into best practices, methodologies, and policy recommendations for ABS recycling to contribute to a resource efficient industry. The project is implemented by a strong consortium that spans the entire ABS value chain.

It is led by UCA and involves 10 additional partners: 3 global brand owners, 2 RTOs, an ABS-producing company, a recycler, a traceability solutions company, a standardisation institute and a company specialised in stakeholder engagement. With ABSolEU, the consortium is seeking to lay the first bricks of a sustainable future for ABS plastics.