"RECYCLING BEYOND THE STATE OF THE ART"
The project aims to recycle currently non-recyclable materials, focusing on forms of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) waste. The project targets PET used in packaging and textiles, commonly called polyester. The waste streams processed by MODUS, currently not handled by mechanical recycling technologies, will be transformed into products that meet the quality standards of virgin materials derived from fossil resources. To achieve this goal, the project will establish a first-of-a-kind chemical recycling plant based on its innovative Microwave-Assisted Depolymerisation (MADE) technology. MODUS will achieve a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission avoidance of 100% compared to the reference scenario.
The MADE technology breaks down PET molecules into their basic building blocks, or monomers, recovering them in a chemically pure form identical to oil-derived raw materials used for conventional virgin PET production.
By recombining these monomers, MODUS will recycle up to 43 800 tonnes of plastic and textile waste annually, producing 35 000 tonnes of high-quality recycled PET and polyester (cPET) annually. The monomers obtained through MADE and subsequent polymerisation are the same as those from oil, allowing cPET to show the same quality and properties as virgin PET (vPET), in contrast to mechanical recycled PET (rPET), which is a downgraded product. While there are other depolymerisation technologies at the pilot stage, MODUS will be the first industrial plant to deploy this technology commercially, achieving over 120 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoidance per year. MODUS will significantly contribute to key European policy targets in the circular economy.
Recycling materials that would otherwise remain unrecycled will help Spain meet the European recycling rate targets set to take effect in 2025 (and increase over time). Additionally, MODUS will provide practical solutions for extended producer responsibility schemes concerning packaging and textile waste, particularly by efficiently recycling mixtures of textile fibres containing polyester. The project will create 100 direct and 300 indirect jobs. It will also foster the formation of new clusters in the region, promoting collaboration among businesses, research institutions, and local communities. Furthermore, it will encourage high-quality circular products, reduce reliance on crude oil, and decrease dependence on raw materials from non-EU countries. The project's MADE technology has significant potential for replication and scaling throughout Europe, potentially achieving full circularity in the PET and polyester value chains.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
