Recycling of plastic-aluminium composites

Challenge:

The aim of the project was to investigate the technical possibilities of separating and recycling hard-to-recycle composite materials consisting primarily of plastic and aluminium. The plastic-aluminium composites in question were thin (3-6 mm) plastic sheets of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) coated with a thin aluminium foil (0.3-0.8 mm). This construction was particularly advantageous for signage products due to specialised properties but made recycling difficult as the materials were inseparable.

Solution:

The goal was to adapt Prounit Frames’ technology to efficiently handle these plastic-aluminium constructions and thus enable the recycling of the composite materials needed for signage products. The project brought together relevant actors in the value chain to uncover technical possibilities for recycling that had economic potentials throughout the value chain.

Impact:

The project should be seen as a preliminary study for a larger collaboration on the development and upscaling of technology for recycling a wide range of plastic-aluminium composites. A further course of action could, for example, be a MUDP project to map the possibilities even further.