The Integrated Approach towards Recycling of Plastics (InReP) project has officially concluded after four years of collaborative research. DPI participated as a co-founding partner of the Circular Plastics Initiative, contributing to a broad, pre-competitive effort to better understand the technological and systemic challenges of plastic packaging recycling.
InReP explored advanced sorting, mechanical recycling and chemical recycling routes for post-consumer plastic packaging waste, with a particular focus on polyolefins (PE/PP) and PET. The consortium combined experimental work with system-level modelling to assess technological options within realistic value-chain constraints.
Key outcomes and insights
The project resulted in six physical showcases, new approaches to decontamination of recycled plastics, and exploratory work on chemical recycling pathways such as PET depolymerisation and catalytic pyrolysis. In parallel, the Plastic Recycling Explorer model was developed to support scenario analysis and policy discussions.
InReP also provided insight into the limitations of current recycling technologies when applied in isolation. The results underline that circularity targets cannot be met by technology alone, but require aligned design choices, collection systems, regulation, and market incentives.