4 oktober 2013 Cradle-to-Cradle project completed

 

Today the report of the c2c research project has been handed over to Rijkswaterstaat DVS in Delft. Results of many tests have been bundled into one report. The tests focus on the technical recycling loop of c2c biocomposites. We used mainly natural fibers (hemp, flax, jute), barite and pp.  Additional tests were done with cellulose fibers from the cardboard industry (thanks to ESKA) and with reclaimed pp from carbage (thanks to Inverko compounding).

 

A first series of best has been done on "old" GC's which spent several years on the sea bottom in mud, or on the sea bottom in water, or on a slope in full sun and wind, or which were just sitting on a shelf.  A second series of tests was performed on reclaimed material, we really wanted to proof that a full loop is feasible. Many old GC's were reclaimed, cleaned, grinded. About 10 different blends were made, and test products were injection moulded and tested.

 

Main conclusions:

- there is no significant degradation of GC properties over time, in all environments

- GC's with natural fibers+barite very quickly (few months) lose some stiffness in water after  which they are stable

- recycling of old GC's is feasible, it is a realistic process

- properties of new products made of old material in (many compounds) are remarkeably good

 

Tests were done by GreenGran Hongkong, Wageningen University Research, Anome Projects and Pezy Product Innovation. This project is important for Rijkswaterstaat as they search for new sustainable solutions in civil engineering. Thanks to the Rijkswaterstaat Innovation Test Centre for co-financing !

 

 

For more info mail to Lieuwe Boskma