Driving advanced recycling of complex plastics towards a truly circular economy – RECYCLING magazine

Report on the CÍCLiCOM Initiative for Complex Plastic Recycling

Introduction: Addressing a Critical Challenge in the Circular Economy

The heterogeneous composition and separation difficulties of composite and complex plastic materials present significant barriers to their recyclability, hindering progress towards a circular economy. The CÍCLiCOM project has been established to address this challenge by promoting high-value technical solutions. This initiative aims to unlock the full potential of these materials, fostering a more sustainable and competitive industrial landscape in direct alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Strategic Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Core Mission

The project’s primary goal is to encourage the adoption of new strategies and tools that foster the circularity of composite and complex plastic materials within the industrial sector. It provides companies with access to services and knowledge that facilitate the implementation of more efficient recycling processes.

Contribution to Global Goals

CÍCLiCOM’s objectives are directly aligned with several key UN Sustainable Development Goals:

1. Reduce Dependence on Virgin Raw Materials: By promoting advanced recycling, the project supports the targets of SDG 12, which calls for the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
2. Minimize Landfill Waste: The reduction of waste sent to landfills contributes to the creation of cleaner, more resilient urban environments, a core component of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
3. Improve Sector Competitiveness: By fostering technological advancement and sustainable practices, the project enhances industrial resilience and innovation, directly supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Project Scope and Innovation Ecosystem

Target Materials

CÍCLiCOM focuses on materials that are essential in high-performance industrial products but are particularly difficult to recover and recycle. These include:

• Multilayer plastics
• Thermoplastic composites
• Thermoset composites

An Ecosystem for Advanced Recycling

Rather than developing a single technology, the project establishes a comprehensive innovation ecosystem around advanced recycling. This approach, central to achieving SDG 9, provides industries with critical support through:

• Technical advisory services
• Development of technological roadmaps
• A public technology watch system for monitoring trends and opportunities

Collaborative Framework and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Project Consortium

The CÍCLiCOM project is a prime example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), bringing together six entities with extensive environmental and technological expertise:

• AIMPLAS (The Plastics Technology Centre)
• Aclima (Basque environmental industry cluster)
• Gaiker Foundation
• ANARPLA (Spanish National Association of Plastic Recyclers)
• CIDAUT (Foundation for Research and Development in Transport and Energy)
• VALORIZA Environmental Services

Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building

Technological innovation is complemented by a strong focus on knowledge transfer and professional training. AIMPLAS is developing specific programs to help companies adapt to the challenges of the circular economy. These initiatives aim to generate specialized talent and promote the adoption of sustainable processes, building the human capacity needed to achieve the targets of SDG 9 and SDG 12.

Anticipated Impacts and Sustainability Contributions

Environmental and Economic Outcomes

The project is expected to generate significant positive impacts, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy. Key expected outcomes include:

1. Reduced Consumption of Virgin Raw Materials: A direct contribution to the principles of SDG 12.
2. Lower CO₂ Emissions: Supporting global efforts under SDG 13 (Climate Action).
3. Decreased Landfill Waste: Furthering the objectives of SDG 11 and SDG 12.
4. Job Creation: Fostering new business opportunities linked to the circular economy.

Institutional Support and Funding

The project is supported by Next Generation EU funds, facilitated through the CDTI’s Innovation Ecosystems program as part of Spain’s National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. This institutional backing is crucial for accelerating innovation and modernizing recycling infrastructure, creating a public-private collaboration framework that ensures the scalability of sustainable solutions, in line with SDG 17.

Dissemination and Future Outlook

PLASREC 2025 International Seminar

Project advancements will be featured at PLASREC 2025, the International Seminar on Plastic Recycling, on December 10–11. This event serves as a key dissemination platform for sharing the latest recycling trends, regulatory frameworks, and technological advances with industry stakeholders.

Dedicated CÍCLiCOM Workshop

A dedicated workshop within PLASREC 2025 will present the results and tools developed by the CÍCLiCOM project. This session will offer professionals an opportunity to learn about project-driven innovations and explore collaboration opportunities, thereby strengthening the innovation ecosystem vital for SDG 9.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article focuses on technological innovation through the CÍCLiCOM project to create a more sustainable and competitive industry by modernizing recycling infrastructure and processes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project’s goal of minimizing landfill waste directly contributes to better waste management within communities.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The core theme is promoting a circular economy for plastics, which involves sustainable management of materials, reducing waste generation, and decreasing reliance on virgin resources.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the collaborative nature of the CÍCLiCOM project, which is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving technology centers, industry clusters, and associations, supported by public and private funding.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. The article states the project aims to “facilitate the implementation of more efficient recycling processes” and “promote a more efficient, competitive, and environmentally respectful industrial model.”
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors. The project’s purpose is to establish an “innovation ecosystem around advanced recycling,” offer “technical advisory services,” and develop “technological roadmaps” to improve the industry’s capabilities.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including waste management. The project directly addresses this by aiming to “minimize landfill waste,” which is a key aspect of municipal waste management.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The project’s goal is to “reduce dependence on virgin raw materials” by unlocking the potential of recycled materials.
   • Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of wastes throughout their life cycle. The initiative focuses on “high-value technical solutions” for materials that are “particularly difficult to recover” to “close their life cycle sustainably.”
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through recycling. The entire project is centered on promoting “the circularity of composite and complex plastic materials” and improving “recycling processes” to prevent these materials from becoming waste.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, and technology. The CÍCLiCOM project is described as a “public-private collaboration framework” made up of “six entities with extensive experience” that work together to transfer knowledge and technology.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships. The project is explicitly mentioned as being funded by “Next Generation EU funds” and involves a collaboration between technology centers (AIMPLAS, Gaiker, CIDAUT), an industry cluster (Aclima), an association (ANARPLA), and a private company (VALORIZA).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 9

   • Lower CO₂ emissions: The article lists “lower CO₂ emissions” as one of the expected impacts, which is a direct indicator for sustainable industrial processes (Target 9.4).
   • Creation of an innovation ecosystem: The establishment of the “innovation ecosystem around advanced recycling” serves as a qualitative indicator of enhanced technological capability (Target 9.5).
   • Job creation: The text mentions “job creation linked to new business opportunities” as an expected outcome, indicating economic progress alongside industrial modernization.

2. Indicators for SDG 11

   • Reduction in landfill waste: The stated goal to “minimize landfill waste” is a direct, measurable indicator of improved waste management (Target 11.6).

3. Indicators for SDG 12

   • Reduced consumption of virgin raw materials: This is explicitly mentioned as an expected impact, directly measuring progress towards more efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2).
   • Implementation of new recycling technologies: The project’s focus on “high-value technical solutions” and “advanced recycling” for complex plastics indicates progress in the sound management of waste (Target 12.4).
   • Increased circularity of materials: The project’s aim to “foster the circularity of composite and complex plastic materials” is an indicator of success in reducing waste generation through recycling (Target 12.5).

4. Indicators for SDG 17

   • Number and diversity of partners: The project itself, composed of six distinct entities including technology centers, industry clusters, and private companies, is an indicator of a multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.16).
   • Establishment of a public-private collaboration framework: The article mentions the creation of this framework as a key element for ensuring effective results, indicating a successful partnership model (Target 17.17).
   • Knowledge transfer activities: Events like the “PLASREC 2025” seminar and the dedicated workshop on the CÍCLiCOM project are tangible indicators of knowledge sharing within the partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: recycling-magazine.com