ReBioCycle consortium demonstrates industrial-scale PLA recycling from mixed waste
The EU-funded ReBioCycle project has shown that PLA bioplastic can be recovered from mixed plastic waste using existing industrial sorting technology, broken down into lactic acid by Torwash's hydrolysis system, and re-polymerised by TotalEnergies Corbion into recycled PLA with properties comparable to virgin resin. The demonstration ran at industrial scale rather than in the laboratory, and the consortium plans further scale-up and new applications. Funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, the wider project also covers PHA and composite bioplastics.
Why this mattersA viable PLA recovery route through existing sorting infrastructure could ease compliance with EU recyclability targets without requiring separate bioplastics collection systems.
- PLA was extracted from mixed plastic waste using sorting technology already in industrial use
- Torwash's hydrolysis system broke the recovered PLA into lactic acid
- TotalEnergies Corbion re-polymerised the lactic acid into recycled PLA said to match virgin-grade PLA properties
- The demonstration was run at industrial scale, not only in laboratory conditions
- The project is funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking and also covers PHA and composite bioplastics
- The EU's PPWR targets all packaging to be recyclable by 2030