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Elast2Sustain focuses on developing new sustainable TPE through various routes. We will investigate whether mechanical or chemical recycling can be used to obtain building blocks that can be reused as raw materials. Two different chemical recycling techniques (pyrolysis and chemical depolymerization) will be investigated. We will also develop new bio-based TPE using CO2 as a building block.

Plastics have become an integral part of our daily lives. Their weight, colorability, corrosion resistance, and malleability make them incredibly versatile. Vulcanized rubber is often used when elasticity and flexibility are required. However, rubber's disadvantage is that it is difficult or impossible to recycle and requires specialized processing expertise, which is why only a limited number of companies operate in the rubber industry.

To improve the processability and thus the recyclability of rubber, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) were introduced in 1960 as an alternative material. Especially in the last 10-15 years, a large number of new TPE materials have been produced, offering a viable alternative to various rubber materials.

Given the relative newness of TPE materials, the INTERREG V Elasto-Plast project (2016-2021) aimed to introduce companies to these materials. A network of interested companies was established within the Interreg region, and the potential of TPEs was demonstrated using concrete, practical examples that companies could use.

With current commodity price inflation, a growing carbon footprint, and the need to eliminate the large amount of synthetic plastic waste, these same companies are increasingly seeking sustainable solutions. On the one hand, they are looking for ways to use recycled polymers (circular economy) and, on the other hand, the demand for bio-based materials (green economy) is increasing to reduce their reliance on the Earth's finite resources, such as oil.