The project will validate a continuous pilot-scale depolymerisation platform capable of processing mixed polyester waste streams, including textiles, coloured PET, multilayer packaging, and post-consumer thermoforms. Using TUS’s patented low-energy, solvent-free reactive extrusion (REX) technology, the process will produce high-purity recycled terephthalic acid (rTPA) and recoverable ethylene glycol (EG) suitable for circular manufacturing supply chains. The project will demonstrate compatibility of the recovered monomers with the production of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR), PET/PBT thermoplastics, and advanced engineering polyester materials. It will also assess the feasibility of producing next-generation circular PBT resins for high-value energy, electronics, and ICT applications. Techno-economic analysis (TEA), lifecycle assessment (LCA), and commercial validation will support industrial scale-up and deployment. In parallel, the project will establish supply-chain partnerships with recyclers, resin manufacturers, textile processors, and brand owners to enable closed-loop polyester circularity.
