TotalEnergies Corbion: ReBioCycle Demonstrates Closed-Loop PLA Recycling at Pilot Scale

The EU-funded ReBioCycle project has demonstrated a complete recycling pathway for polylactic acid (PLA) from mixed plastic waste at pilot scale. According to project partner TotalEnergies Corbion, PLA was separated from mixed waste streams using existing sorting technologies, chemically broken down into lactic acid and subsequently repolymerized into PLA. The recycled material reportedly achieved properties comparable to those of virgin material.

The trials were conducted in an operational environment. After the PLA had been sorted to a level of purity sufficient for further processing, Torwash used its hydrolysis technology to convert the recovered PLA into lactic acid. TotalEnergies Corbion then used the lactic acid to produce recycled PLA. The process chain therefore covers every step from mixed waste collection to the production of a new polymer.

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The result demonstrates the technology’s feasibility beyond controlled laboratory conditions. However, industrial implementation has not yet been achieved. The consortium now plans to develop and validate applications using the recycled PLA and to scale the process toward industrial capacity. No information on throughput, yield, energy consumption or economic viability was published.

Of particular relevance to the plastics and packaging industry is the potential integration of PLA into existing sorting and recycling infrastructure. The project is also linked to the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), under which packaging must be recyclable from 2030.

TotalEnergies Corbion is a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion. The company develops and manufactures PLA bioplastics under the Luminy brand for applications including packaging, fibers, consumer goods, medical components and 3D-printing filaments.

More information: www.totalenergies-corbion.com

TotalEnergies Corbion, Gorinchem