Circular Economy

Extrusion is evolving from a standalone process into a connected component of the smart factory. Machines, software, materials, and people are becoming part of a larger digital ecosystem.

A bipolar electrode electrical treatment separates resin from CFRP without directly wiring the composite into the circuit.

The EU PPWR is now in effect, bringing new rules on recyclability, recycled content, EPR, PFAS, labeling, and packaging efficiency.

Lightweight, breathable, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-free textiles are key to safer, more sustainable military uniforms.

ASR plastics from end-of-life vehicles could replace natural sand in concrete, reducing landfill waste while supporting infrastructure use.

Polyolefins dominate healthcare packaging, but low recycling rates reveal a major sustainability gap in medical plastics waste.

Bio-based additives support sustainable plastics, but cost premiums, feedstock volatility, and compliance pressure complicate adoption.

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are not the same. A new framework separates feedstock, polymer chemistry, and degradation to improve material decisions.

Research into optimizing the pyrolysis of automotive plastic waste demonstrates the potential to produce oils with properties approaching those of commercial diesel.

Mechanical recycling can change the color response, surface quality, and mechanical performance of thermochromic polypropylene used in smart packaging.