PROSPER

• Developing sorting and separation systems based on near-infrared (NIR) and colour (RGB) sensing supported by AI to identify and isolate three dedicated types of bio-based plastics from different sources of household packaging waste.
• Demonstrating the most feasible sorting solutions at scale in four waste management facilities across three different member states to ensure the feasibility, effectiveness, and integration with current waste management practices.
• Developing and demonstrating mechanical and chemical recycling technologies for mixed bio-based plastics, polylactic acid, and BTEC-blend.
• Demonstrating the conversion of recycled materials into new products, targeting, where feasible, the same grade for the recycled product as the virgin product.
• Assessing and developing the market uptake potential and social acceptance of recycled bio-based plastic products and waste management solutions.
• Modelling and assessing technically feasible and financially viable sorting and recycling strategies and their costs.
• Carrying out a comprehensive sustainability assessment, testing the safety and sustainability of the demonstrated processes and products.
• Engaging with stakeholders - consumers, industry, policymakers-, to share project results and recommendations, as well as to encourage new collaborations.

PROSPER will provide facts, figures, and technical demonstrations which can be used by the bioplastic value chain actors to convince the stakeholders about the potential circularity of bioplastics in the packaging market. Benefits include :

• Increase of the recycling rate of bio-based plastics in packaging waste management.
• Demonstration of cost-effective sorting and recycling technology for bio-based plastics packaging in an industrial environment, integrated into current practices of waste management processes. The core is AI-assisted sorting technology, enabling over 80% sorting accuracy.
• Increase of recycled content in new products from bio-based plastics.
• Provision of a feasible EPR scheme for bio-based plastics, which is a fundamental factor in making the business case feasible and recycling possible.
• Effective sorting and recycling schemes for bio-based plastic materials.
• Significant improvement in environmental performance across the value chain against fossil and/or bio-based benchmarks, by reducing plastic waste while also introducing industrial-scale sorting, recycling, and reproduction technology.
• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.
• Favourable policies that will enable the circularity of bio-based plastic packaging.