New plastic mill will help companies recycle smarter
With support from the Enström Foundation, the Re-form project can now invest in a plastic mill to investigate how recycled plastic can be used more efficiently in production. It is an important step towards a more sustainable and circular use of plastics.
Judith Waller, researcher and senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at the Sports Tech Research Centre, has been awarded SEK 150,000 by the Enström Foundation for the purchase of the new mill.
The plastic mill grinds down plastic products into small grains, so-called granules, and allows them to be reused in injection molding. The goal is to better understand how recycled plastic changes over time, and how companies can benefit from their own waste material.
"It will be exciting to have the chance to look a little deeper into the subject. With new EU directives and the goals of Agenda 2030, recycled plastic will play an increasingly important role in the production of the future," says Judith Waller.
Not easy to reuse plastic
Plastic that is reused several times changes – it can become weaker, more brittle or lose its colour and shape. By testing different material mixtures, for example between virgin and recycled plastics, or comparing bio-based and fossil plastics, Re-form can provide concrete answers to which combinations are best suited for new products.
"It's about helping local businesses understand what their recycled plastic can actually do, and how they can use more of their own waste without compromising on quality," explains Judith Waller.
Ground down spectacle frames are used
The project name Re-form is a combination of "re" as in recycle, reuse and repurpose, and "form" which refers to the injection molding process. It symbolizes the link between sustainable reuse and the technical shaping of new products.
"With the plastic mill in place, the project can contribute knowledge that makes a real difference – both for the environment and for the industry.
The plastic that Judith Waller is holding comes from ground up spectacle frames that Synsam has donated to the research centre. In addition to SEK 150,000 for the mill, Sports Tech Research Centre has also been awarded SEK 200,000 to be used for the purchase of new equipment.