• Login
    • Join
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Exclusives
    • Applications
    • Technology
    • Market
    • Other
    • Top 40
    • Buyers Guide
    • Hygiene Directory
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • Applications
  • Technology
  • Market
  • Other
  • Top 40
  • Buyers Guide
  • Hygiene Directory
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Columns
    Digital Edition
    Southeast Asia Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    The Face Mask Market—Three Years Later

    Spunlace Nonwovens A New Normal

    Innovation Shines in Personal Care Wipes

    Paltrow, Cuban Invest in Kudos

    Who’s Who in Baby Diaper Machinery
    Company Cameo
    Financial News
    Machinery Equipment
    New Products
    Nonwovens News
    Patent Review
    People in the News
    Supplier News
    Top News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Avgol to Showcase Algaeing Colorants and Fibers at Filtech

    Uster to Host Webinar on Zero-Level Contamination Control

    Mativ Renames Filtration Unit, Gessner

    biom Launches Flushable Wipes

    Weekly Recap: K-C Requests Huggies-Related Lawsuit to be Thrown Out, WPT Makes Investment & More
    Nonwovens Insights
    Online Exclusives
    Adult Incontinence
    Absorbent Core
    Antimicrobials
    Apparel
    Automotive and Transportation
    Face Masks
    Chemicals / Adhesives
    Construction
    Contract Services
    Diaper, Baby
    Electronics
    Feminine Hygiene
    Fibers
    Filtration
    Flame Retardance
    Geotextile / Agrotextile
    Home Products
    Hygiene Film/Components
    Industrial / Institutional
    Inspection / Quality Control
    Machinery and Equipment
    Medical
    Wipes

    Avgol to Showcase Algaeing Colorants and Fibers at Filtech

    Uster to Host Webinar on Zero-Level Contamination Control

    Mativ Renames Filtration Unit, Gessner

    biom Launches Flushable Wipes

    Kimberly-Clark Supports Period Poverty Initiative in Australia
    Air Through Bonding
    Airlaid
    Carded/Carding
    Chemical Bonded
    Composite
    Meltblown
    Needlepunch
    Nanotechnology
    Spunbond
    Spunbond/Spunmelt
    Spunlace
    Thermal Bonded
    Wetlaid

    WPT Nonwovens to Add Thermobonding Line in Kentucky

    Spunlace Nonwovens A New Normal

    Suominen Considers Closure of Mozzate Plant

    Saudi German Nonwovens to Expand Spunmelt Output

    Avgol to Add Recofil 5 Nonwovens Line in North Carolina
    China
    Eastern Europe/Russia
    India
    Middle East/North Africa
    North America
    Pacific Rim
    South/Central America
    Turkey
    Western Europe

    WPT Nonwovens to Add Thermobonding Line in Kentucky

    Manjushree Spntek

    Suominen Considers Closure of Mozzate Plant

    Autoneum to Acquire Automotive Business of Borgers Group

    Vinda Opens SEA Regional Hub
    Associations
    Contracts / Awards
    Education
    Facilities / Capacity
    Green / Sustainability
    Legal / Regulatory
    Market Data
    Flushability
    Mergers and Acquisitions
    Product Improvement / Innovation
    R&D/Basic Research
    Shows / Events

    WPT Nonwovens to Add Thermobonding Line in Kentucky

    FiltXPO to be Held in October

    Sabic Reaffirms Commitment to the Circular Economy

    Harper Hygienics Converts to Renewable Energy

    Voith Acquires Stake in Packaging Start-up Yangi
    Chart
    Companies
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Profiles
    Add New Company
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd.

    ELSNER

    Alliance Machine and Engraving

    Valco Melton

    Investkonsult Sweden AB
    Brands
    Brand Owners
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • Southeast Asia Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Buyers Guide
      • All Companies
      • Categories
      • Company Profiles
      • Add Your Company
    • Applications
      • Absorbent Core
      • Adult Incontinence
      • Antimicrobials
      • Apparel
      • Automotive and Transportation
      • Chemicals / Adhesives
      • Construction
      • Contract Services
      • Diaper, Baby
      • Electronics
      • Feminine Hygiene
      • Fibers
      • Filtration
      • Flame Retardance
      • Geotextile / Agrotextile
      • Home Products
      • Hygiene Film/Components
      • Industrial / Institutional
      • Inspection / Quality Control
      • Machinery and Equipment
      • Medical
      • Wipes
      • Face Masks
    • Technology
      • Air Through Bonding
      • Airlaid
      • Carded/Carding
      • Chemical Bonded
      • Composite
      • Meltblown
      • Needlepunch
      • Nanotechnology
      • Spunbond
      • Spunlace
      • Thermal Bonded
      • Wetlaid
      • Spunbond/Spunmelt
    • Market
      • China
      • Eastern Europe/Russia
      • India
      • Middle East/North Africa
      • North America
      • Pacific Rim
      • South/Central America
      • Turkey
      • Western Europe
    • Other
      • Associations
      • Contracts / Awards
      • Education
      • Facilities / Capacity
      • Green / Sustainability
      • Legal / Regulatory
      • Market Data
      • Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Product Improvement / Innovation
      • R&D/Basic Research
      • Shows / Events
      • Flushability
    • Top 40 Companies
      • Chart
      • Companies
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Hygiene Directory
      • Brands
      • Brand Owners
    • Experts Opinions
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Whitepapers
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Events
      • Webinars
      • Live From Asian Connections
    • Jobs
    • Resources
      • Suppliers Gallery
      • Literature Showcase
      • Web Showcase
      • Home Page Showcase
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Breaking News

    Fraunhofer, Sabic and P&G Partner on Closed-Loop Recycling Project

    Pilot project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of closed-loop recycling of single-use facemasks

    Fraunhofer, Sabic and P&G Partner on Closed-Loop Recycling Project
    Related Content
    • DBM IOANNOU
    • Engqvist Consulting
    • Rebel Converting
    • GPMI Expands Disinfectant Wipes Production
    • Optimizing Nonwovens Converting
    06.17.21
    Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT, Sabic and Procter & Gamble (P&G) announced their collaboration in an innovative circular economy pilot project which aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of closed-loop recycling of single-use facemasks.

    Due to Covid-19, use of billions of disposable facemasks is raising environmental concerns especially when they are discarded in public spaces, including parks, open-air venues and beaches. Apart from the challenge of dealing with such huge volumes of essential personal healthcare items in a sustainable way, simply throwing the used masks away for disposal on landfill sites or in incineration plants represents a loss of valuable feedstock for new material.

    “Recognizing the challenge, we set out to explore how used facemasks could potentially be returned into the value chain of new facemask production,” says Dr. Peter Dziezok, director R&D Open Innovation at P&G. “But creating a true circular solution from both a sustainable and an economically feasible perspective takes partners. Therefore, we teamed up with Fraunhofer CCPE and Fraunhofer UMSICHT’s expert scientists and Sabic's Technology & Innovation specialists to investigate potential solutions.”

    As part of the pilot, P&G collected used facemasks worn by employees or given to visitors at its manufacturing and research sites in Germany. Although those masks are always disposed of responsibly, there was no ideal route in place to recycle them efficiently. To help demonstrate a potential step change in this scenario, special collection bins were set up, and the collected used masks were sent to Fraunhofer for further processing in a dedicated research pyrolysis plant.

    “A single-use medical product such as a face mask has high hygiene requirements, both in terms of disposal and production. Mechanical recycling, would have not done the job,” explains Dr. Alexander Hofmann, head of department Recycling Management at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. “In our solution, therefore, the masks were first automatically shredded and then thermochemically converted to pyrolysis oil. Pyrolysis breaks the plastic down into molecular fragments under pressure and heat, which will also destroy any residual pollutants or pathogens, such as the Coronavirus. In this way it is possible to produce feedstock for new plastics in virgin quality that can also meet the requirements for medical products,” adds Hofmann, who is also head of Research Department “Advanced Recycling” at Fraunhofer CCPE.

    The pyrolysis oil was then sent to Sabic to be used as feedstock for the production of new PP resin. The resins were produced using the widely recognized principle of mass balance to combine the alternative feedstock with fossil-based feedstock in the production process. Mass balance is considered a crucial bridge between today’s large scale linear economy plants and the more sustainable circular economy of the future, which today is operated on a smaller scale but expected to grow quickly.

    “The high-quality circular PP polymer obtained in this pilot demonstrates that closed-loop recycling is achievable through active collaboration of players from across the value chain,” emphasizes Mark Vester, global circular economy leader at Sabic. “The circular material is part of our TruCircle portfolio, aimed at preventing valuable used plastic from becoming waste and at mitigating the depletion of fossil resources.”

    Finally, to close the loop, the PP polymer was supplied to P&G, where it was processed into nonwoven fibers material. “This pilot project has helped us to assess if the close loop approach could work for hygienic and medical grade plastics,” says Hansjörg Reick, P&G senior director Open Innovation. “Of course, further work is needed but the results so far have been very encouraging.”

    The entire closed loop pilot project from facemask collection to production was developed and implemented within only seven months. The transferability of advanced recycling to other feedstocks and chemical products is being further researched at Fraunhofer CCPE.
    Related Searches
    • Medical
    • Green/Sustainability
    Related Knowledge Center
    • Green/Sustainability
    • Medical
    Suggested For You
    DBM IOANNOU DBM IOANNOU
    Engqvist Consulting Engqvist Consulting
    Rebel Converting Rebel Converting
    GPMI Expands Disinfectant Wipes Production GPMI Expands Disinfectant Wipes Production
    Optimizing Nonwovens Converting Optimizing Nonwovens Converting
    Lydall Inc. Lydall Inc.
    Glatfelter Glatfelter
    Jacob Holm Completes Nonwovens Investment Jacob Holm Completes Nonwovens Investment
    Fiberpartner Launches Bico Biodegradable Low-Melt Fiber Fiberpartner Launches Bico Biodegradable Low-Melt Fiber
    Improving the Sustainability of Nonwoven Products in a Cost-Effective Way Improving the Sustainability of Nonwoven Products in a Cost-Effective Way
    Nelson Peltz to Retire from P&G’s Board Nelson Peltz to Retire from P&G’s Board
    Sales Increase at Glatfelter Sales Increase at Glatfelter
    Huggies, Walgreen Address Diaper Need Huggies, Walgreen Address Diaper Need
    Freudenberg Offers Workwear Range Freudenberg Offers Workwear Range
    EDANA Runs Second Round of Pilot Audits EDANA Runs Second Round of Pilot Audits

    Related Buyers Guide Companies

    • DBM IOANNOU

      ...
      George Ath Ioannou, Owner 06.12.22

    • Engqvist Consulting

      ...
      Helena Engqvist, Managing Director 06.08.22

    • Rebel Converting

      Rebel Converting

      ...
      Mike Kryshak, Rebel Rouser 06.01.22


    • Wipes

      GPMI Expands Disinfectant Wipes Production

      Manufacturer opens new site in Arizona
      09.20.21

    • Optimizing Nonwovens Converting

      Optimizing Nonwovens Converting

      ...
      09.10.21

    Loading, Please Wait..
    Trending
    • K-C Requests Huggies-Related Lawsuit To Be Thrown Out
    • Qvin Menstrual Blood Diagnostic Device Receives FDA Approval In Thailand
    • New Turkish Diaper Manufacturer Has Roots
    • Glatfelter Develops Compostable Wipe Substrate
    • Avgol To Showcase Algaeing Colorants And Fibers At Filtech
    Breaking News
    • Avgol to Showcase Algaeing Colorants and Fibers at Filtech
    • Uster to Host Webinar on Zero-Level Contamination Control
    • Typar Expands Drainable Wrap Line
    • Mativ Renames Filtration Unit, Gessner
    • biom Launches Flushable Wipes
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    February 2023

    • The Face Mask Market—Three Years Later
    • Spunlace Nonwovens: A New Normal
    • Innovation Shines in Personal Care Wipes
    • Paltrow, Cuban Invest in Kudos
    • View More >



    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    NPA Announces Annual Capitol Hill Advocacy ‘Fly-In’ Day
    GOED Elects New Board Officers for 2023
    Aspire Hires Darrec Jones as VP of Business Development
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Caren Hoffmann Appointed Vice President for BASF Mining Solutions
    Microban International Announces Four Senior Hires
    PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project in Denmark
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    Freudenberg Medical Adds Silicone Extrusion Capabilities in Massachusetts
    Positive Long-Term Prospects for Japanese Diabetes Care Market
    Digital X-Ray is as Effective as Lung Ventilation Perfusion in Detecting CTEPH
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Bristol Myers Squibb 4Q Results
    Actinium, NCI Partner to Develop Actimab-A in AML
    Astellas Announces New President and CEO and Management Structure
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    Old Spice Introduces New Mascot and Launches ‘Smelf-Confidence’ Campaign
    KVD Beauty Launches Good Apple Serum Foundation
    Interpack 2023 to Focus on Sustainability
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    EvaClean Promotes Nicole Slacik to Executive Vice President, Healthcare
    Personal Care Brand Odele Expands into Ulta Beauty
    Clorox’s Eric Reynolds Elected Chair of American Cleaning Institute’s Board of Directors
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Mexar Limited Awarded OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT Certification
    Graphic Packaging Named to Fortune's List of World's Most Admired Companies
    CDP Awards Amcor an A- for Ongoing Work on Climate Change Disclosure
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    Fujifilm expands RxD inkjet pigment dispersions color range
    Anderson & Vreeland acquires flexo consumable assets from Grimco
    Hamillroad Software's Bellissima DMS honored in Brazil
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Avgol to Showcase Algaeing Colorants and Fibers at Filtech
    Uster to Host Webinar on Zero-Level Contamination Control
    Typar Expands Drainable Wrap Line
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Steady Growth Forecast for Global Orthobiologics Market
    ODT's Most-Read Stories This Week—Feb. 4
    Toetal Solutions Secures $1.8 Million in New Financing
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    onsemi Exceeds 4Q 2022 Expectations
    Emerson Launches Ovation Green Software Portfolio
    Graphene Flagship Researchers Examine Applications for Space

    Copyright © 2023 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login