"CIRCULAR FOAM" research project successfully completed

Four years of research for closed-loop recycling - REDWAVE provides sorting expertise for high-quality recovery. The EU research project CIRCULAR FOAM has been officially completed after four years of intensive work. The aim of the project, which was funded by the European Union as part of Horizon 2020, was to significantly advance the recycling of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams - for example from insulation materials or refrigerators - and thus enable a closed material cycle.

Circular economy for rigid PU foams
Rigid PU foams are an important insulating material, but have so far posed a recycling problem at the end of their life. The CIRCULAR FOAM project has shown that a combination of innovative sorting and recycling technology makes the recovery of these materials technically feasible and ecologically sound.

REDWAVE supplies key technology
As a technology partner, REDWAVE - BT-Systems' competence center for recycling and sorting solutions - was largely responsible for the development and testing of an intelligent sorting solution. With the help of sensor-based detection systems, it was possible to precisely identify PU waste and separate it by type - a crucial prerequisite for subsequent chemical recycling.

By integrating real-time sensor technology and data-based control, REDWAVE was able to demonstrate that automated sorting not only improves material quality, but is also economically viable. This has created a central building block for future PU recycling processes.

Results and outlook
CIRCULAR FOAM demonstrated throughout Europe that PU cycles are technically and regionally feasible. In pilot regions such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Silesia and Amsterdam, specific application scenarios have been developed that can be scaled up in the future.

For REDWAVE, the project represents an important technological boost: The knowledge gained flows directly into the further development of the sorting machines and strengthens the company's position as an innovative partner for high-quality recycling solutions.

Conclusion
CIRCULAR FOAM represents a significant step towards a circular economy for rigid PU foams. With its REDWAVE sorting technology, BT-Systems has proven that precise material recognition is a key to the success of future recycling processes - and is thus making a valuable contribution to a more sustainable future.